Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Leading AL in Strikeouts After Latest Start

The biggest offseason acquisition for the Toronto Blue Jays was a seven-year, $210 million contract signed by right-handed starting pitcher Dylan Cease.

Despite being considered one of the best starting pitchers available in free agency and boasting some of the best pure strikeout stuff in the major leagues, Cease was coming off a poor season with the San Diego Padres.

In 2025, the 30-year-old righty posted a 4.55 ERA with San Diego and struck out 215 batters in 168 innings pitched across 32 starts.

This season, Cease has refined his arsenal and is looking well-worth the investment for the Blue Jays. He continued to reaffirm that conclusion in his latest outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

In a 2-0 win against Los Angeles, which saw Toronto snap a four-game skid, Cease fanned 10 batters, allowed five hits and didn't issue a free base or allow a run in seven innings of work. It was his second-straight seven-inning outing.

Cease's 10 strikeouts against the Angels gave him 66 on the season, which ranks first in the American League and second in the major leagues behind Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski (70).

Following his quality start against Los Angeles, Cease has a 2.58 ERA this season across 45.1 innings of work in eight starts.

Cease has emerged as the ace of the Blue Jays starting rotation and his emergence has been much-needed considering the laundry list of injuries that have fallen the team's staff.