The Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease is used to showing up for the team, handing the Blue Jays a deep outing in nearly every start. However, the right-hander allowed five runs on four hits with two walks in five innings of work against the Athletics on Monday.
It was a costly night in a 6-5 walk-off loss at Sutter Health Park, Cease’s eighth career start against Oakland and one that pushed his ERA against the Athletics to 5.63, easily his worst mark against any opponent he has faced for at least 40 innings.
The 30-year-old starter didn’t do himself any favors on Monday. He needed 94 pitches to get through five innings, an inflated workload driven in part by five stolen bases the Athletics piled up against him and catcher Alejandro Kirk.
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That extra strain, combined with Toronto’s playoff math, puts significant weight on Jose Soriano’s start Tuesday against Oakland.
According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, Max Scherzer is set to start Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. Zwelling mentioned that both Cease and Soriano need to have strong outings against the Athletics to get back to regular rest on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately for Cease, that doesn’t look likely.
However, a strong outing from Soriano keeps that plan intact. If he struggles, Toronto could be forced to pitch Cease on short rest or alter its rotation plans, sacrificing recovery time to keep its best pitcher available in a race that leaves little room for a lost turn through the rotation.
Toronto fell back below .500 to 72-73 after Monday’s loss, a game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third American League Wild Card spot with 17 games left. Despite Monday’s hiccup, Cease still ranks among the AL leaders with 221 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA over 26 starts. If the Blue Jays are going to hold on in the Wild Card race, they will likely need him a lot sooner than planned.
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