Blue Jays' Dylan Cease creates first-ever MLB pitching line
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease creates first-ever MLB pitching line originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Toronto Blue Jays' Dylan Cease opened Saturday like an AL Cy Young award candidate, striking out the Texas Rangers' first two batters, Joc Pederson and Josh Jung.
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Enjoying his most dominant campaign since 2022, Cease has consistently been mentioned as one of the MLB's top starting pitchers this season.
Over his past eight starts, Cease amassed at least seven strikeouts, matching A.J. Burnett for the second-longest streak in franchise history. Roger Clemens reached the mark during an organizational-best 13 games in 1997.
Despite yielding four earned runs in 4.2 innings during Saturday's 7-4 loss, Cease still collected 10 strikeouts, increasing his season total to 128 through 15 appearances. His strikeout total remains tied with Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan's 1989 first 15-game standard, ranking eighth all-time in MLB history.
Saturday's start was different.
Cease surrendered all four runs on four hits with five walks. It was the first time a pitcher compiled the pitching line.
After signing a seven-year, $210 million deal last offseason, Cease earned an A grade for stabilizing the Blue Jays' rotation. It's been needed, especially with slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. fighting first-half consistency.
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease establishes unique pitching line
Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, Cease opened the frame by striking out Pederson again. Four batters later, Rangers' Jake Burger singled to left, scoring Jung and knocking out Cease. It was just the third start this season that he failed to pitch into the sixth inning.
The AL leader in strikeouts, Cease surrendered Saturday's first run. It has become a familiar scenario for the Blue Jays, who yielded a first-inning run in six in a row. The Blue Jays (39-44) have dropped five straight and were tied with the Baltimore Orioles for fourth place in the AL East.
Cease entered Saturday's start ranked No. 2 in AL Cy Young award consideration.
After Saturday's unique outing, will Cease remain a favorite to capture the league's top pitching honor?