Cease uncertain for remainder of '26 after MRI reveals shoulder inflammation

BALTIMORE -- In a season short on it, let’s start with the good news. Dylan Cease’s MRI revealed only inflammation in his right shoulder, nothing structural and nothing more.

Cease still won’t be making his scheduled start this week in Baltimore and he may not pitch again in 2026, but the Blue Jays don’t expect this to be something that spills into ‘27. Cease wouldn’t describe it as “painful,” but he detailed the discomfort he’s been pitching through.

“It’s definitely a bit heavy and achy, just not normal,” Cease explained. “At the same time, it didn’t feel like it was torn. It’s not something I need surgery for or anything like that, it’s just inflammation, that middle ground. It wasn’t enough to keep me from playing. In baseball, most guys you ask have things that aren’t feeling good. You just play with it as long as you can.”

Cease first felt this back around July 25, coming out of that complete game against the Red Sox in Boston. It was one of his finest performances of the season with a whopping 120 pitches, but since then, his velocity has dipped noticeably. The dominant starter who flirted with 100 mph earlier in the season was suddenly living closer to the mid-90s, and more recently, even lower.

In his most recent start, Cease’s command abandoned him, too, creating a dangerous mix. He allowed four runs (one earned) and walked six over just 2 2/3 innings, and it was clear that something wasn’t right.

“The velocity being down has been a little bit concerning,” Cease said, “but at the same time, I’m getting outs. It wasn’t anything that was too scary because nothing about it feels like I’ve got something that needs surgery. I was never that panicked or worried, it was more of an inconvenience, and I was annoyed that I wasn’t able to maximize my best self. The last couple of starts, the velo keeps going down and down. Especially that last one, I almost felt like I was hurting the team.”

Cease’s season has still been remarkable, despite this final chapter. He’s posted a 2.40 ERA with 239 strikeouts over 169 innings, the fourth-highest strikeout total in franchise history behind only Robbie Ray (248 in ‘21) and Roger Clemens (271 in ‘98, 292 in ‘97).

It feels very unlikely that Cease will pitch again in the final week of the season, but he said that’s still “in limbo” as he and the organization work through things. Leaving the door cracked open, manager John Schneider detailed the perfect scenario that would need to line up.

“Him feeling better from his time down and feeling like himself,” Schneider said, “and obviously the game meaning a lot. If those two things line up, hopefully he’ll be good to go.”

This is year one of seven in Cease’s $210 million deal, which already looks better than the day he signed. There will always be long-term concerns when we’re talking about shoulders, but he remains completely convinced that surgery or further treatments won’t need to enter the equation. This is just something that needs rest and recovery, then he’ll hit the ground running again in 2027.

Next season could still look different for Cease, though. He mentioned his throwing plan between starts as one potential area to adjust, perhaps tinkering with his workload along the way. Cease topped 100 pitches in 16 of his 29 starts, a rare pitcher who brings a workhorse mentality to match with his elite stuff. Some pacing is required.

“Maybe finding different spots to take additional rest,” Cease said.

That’s a problem to solve next year. For now, there’s a sense of relief around Cease, and a belief that this problem can be left in 2026.