This season has not gone to plan for the Toronto Blue Jays following their trip to the World Series last year, but Dylan Cease has proven to be a stellar addition.
Cease was an All-Star for the first time this season, and through 25 starts has a 2.33 ERA. He is a Cy Young Award candidate and has a strong case to win the award, despite Cam Schlittler being a heavy favorite. On Friday night, Cease became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson to record 19 consecutive games with at least seven strikeouts.
Cease has always been an elite strikeout pitcher, but his consistency this year is on another level. The Blue Jays are fighting to earn a wild card spot, and if they get in, anything can happen. Cease and Jose Soriano are certainly a duo that no team wants to face in October. If Trey Yesavage is back and healthy, they have a real trio that can carry them through the postseason.
Cease's last start with fewer than seven strikeouts came against the Boston Red Sox on April 27. Johnson's streak reached 22 games in 2011, and Cease is close to matching it. Johnson could have gotten to 23 games, but only struck out six batters in his final start of the season.
The Blue Jays are 2 1/2 games back in the wild card race, and will lean heavily on Cease to help them win down the stretch.
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