Instead, the Blue Jays are now down in the series, sitting at 21-25. But if anything is known about this Blue Jays squad, it’s their ability to have a short memory, and with their best man on the mound tonight, they’ll look to bounce back.
That man is Dylan Cease, and his importance to this club right now cannot be overstated.
Through nine starts, Cease leads the American League in strikeouts and sits second in all of baseball, with 75 punchouts on the year. His ERA is at 2.41 with a 1.18 WHIP, and he’s holding opponents to a .214 batting average. His last three starts have been especially dominant: seven innings each, 26 strikeouts combined, and only four earned runs allowed. He has been the most consistent thing about this Blue Jays team, and an anchor on a roster that has spent much of the season searching for one.
Nasty stuff from Dylan Cease tonight
One of the keys to Cease’s success has been his dramatically improved numbers against left-handed batters. Lefties posted a .735 OPS against him last season. This year, they’ve been held to a .550 OPS with zero home runs. That matters enormously in Yankee Stadium, where a lineup stacked with left-handed hitters can easily exploit the short porch in right field.
However, the matchup history with New York hasn’t been kind to Cease. He carries a 5.34 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees. But the last time they faced off just over a year ago for the San Diego Padres, Cease went 6⅔ innings and allowed just one run, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh. That version of Cease is who the Blue Jays need tonight, especially with the situation in the bullpen.
The relief situation got grimmer after news broke this afternoon.
Standing in the Blue Jays’ way this evening is Will Warren.
The 26-year-old righty carries a 3.42 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 47.1 innings with a 29.8% strikeout rate, despite only having slightly above average stuff. Warren works with a 5-pitch arsenal, including two fastball shapes sitting around 94 mph, a sweeping slider, a cutter, and a changeup. The slider in particular is a plus offering with a ton of horizontal movement that tunnels well with his two-seamer.
Will Warren, Frisbee 83mph Sweeper. 🥏
19 inches of Horizontal Break
The one caveat is that Warren has faced the Blue Jays just once in his career, and it did not go well: he allowed eight runs on 10 hits over four innings in the 2025 meeting, surrendering two home runs in the process.
The Blue Jays offence is still searching for consistency as a unit, but yesterday’s six runs and previous success against Warren could be a positive sign of what’s to come tonight.
Although it is worth noting, Ernie Clement, who blasted a three-run homer last night off Ryan Weathers, remains out of the lineup tonight as he deals with a case of strep throat. Davis Schneider will fill in for Clement tonight, and in Schneider’s only game against Warren last July, he blasted a two-run homer, something worth keeping in mind tonight.
Location: New York City, NY (Yankee Stadium)
First Pitch: 7:05 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 3-1, 2.41 ERA, 52.1 IP, 75 SO, 1.18 WHIP
New York Yankees – Will Warren: 5-1, 3.42 ERA, 47.1 IP, 59 SO, 1.16 WHIP
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
1.George Springer – DH
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
3. Daulton Varsho – CF
4. Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
5. Yohendrick Piñango – LF
6. Jesús Sánchez – RF
7. Davis Schneider – 2B
8. Andrés Giménez – SS
9. Tyler Heineman – CC
Yankees:
1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Ben Rice – 1B
3. Aaron Judge – RF
4. Cody Bellinger – LF
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
6. Ryan McMahon – 3B
7. Anthony Volpe – SS
8. Jahmai Jones – DH
9. Austin Wells – C