There was a measure of relief in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse in Baltimore: Dylan Cease’s right shoulder MRI showed inflammation, not structural damage. The news will keep him out of his scheduled start this week, and it may close the book on his 2026 season, but Toronto does not view the issue as one that should follow him into 2027.
A shoulder issue that built over time
- Cease first noticed the shoulder discomfort after his July 25 complete game against the Red Sox in Boston, a 120-pitch outing that stood among his strongest starts of the season.
- From there, his fastball velocity began to slide. Earlier in the year, Cease had occasionally reached for triple digits; after the Boston outing, he increasingly worked in the mid-90s and eventually below that range.
- His latest start brought the concern into clearer view. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, gave up four runs — only one earned — and issued six walks as both his command and velocity faltered.
- An MRI then provided the answer: inflammation in the right shoulder, with no tear and no indication of structural damage.
Cease said the shoulder had felt heavy and achy rather than sharply painful. He had not believed he was dealing with an injury that would require an operation, describing it instead as the kind of physical wear pitchers often try to manage while continuing to take the ball.
Still, he recognized that the declining velocity had become a problem. Cease said he had been able to get outs for much of the stretch, which kept the concern from becoming panic, but the last couple of outings made it harder to ignore. By the most recent start, he felt he was no longer giving the club his best chance.
A strong season, even with a difficult finish
The shoulder trouble does not erase what Cease delivered in his first season with Toronto. Across 169 innings, he owns a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts.
| Category | Dylan Cease, 2026 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.40 |
| Innings pitched | 169 |
| Strikeouts | 239 |
| Starts of 100-plus pitches | 16 of 29 |
His strikeout total is already fourth in Blue Jays franchise history for a single season. Only Robbie Ray, with 248 in 2021, and Roger Clemens, with 271 in 1998 and 292 in 1997, have finished a Toronto season with more.
That workload is part of the picture now. Cease exceeded 100 pitches in 16 of his 29 starts, carrying the workload of an old-school rotation anchor alongside premium stuff. When he returns next season, he suggested that the between-start routine could be adjusted, including identifying points in the calendar where extra recovery might be worthwhile.
The final week remains uncertain
Cease has not ruled out pitching during the final week, though the possibility appears remote. The decision remains unsettled as he and the club monitor how the shoulder responds to rest.
Manager John Schneider laid out a narrow path for Cease to return: the pitcher would need to feel like himself again, and the game would need to carry significant importance for Toronto. If both conditions arrive, the Blue Jays could consider using him.
For now, rest is the prescription. Cease is in the first year of a seven-year, $210 million contract, and shoulder questions will naturally linger whenever a frontline starter is shut down. But Cease remains confident that surgery and additional treatment will not be necessary. The expectation is that recovery, a reset in his workload plan and a healthy offseason can have him ready to go when 2027 opens.
