The Blue Jays and Dylan Cease let one slip away

With eight games left in the season, the Blue Jays' playoff hopes are looking increasingly out of reach.

Last night, in a crucial game in the playoff race against the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays lost 7-1.

Dylan Cease, who pitched on five days' rest instead of the originally scheduled six, ran out of steam. He had his worst start of the season.

He walked six batters in 2.2 innings of work. He also allowed four runs, though only one was earned due to an error. And that likely cost him the Cy Young Award for good.

Dylan Cease pitched 2.2 innings in Texas tonight, his shortest outing of the season

. He allowed one earned run on three hits and a season-high six walks, but a Blue Jays error resulted in three unearned runs pic.twitter.com/34yYIK4i48

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 19, 2026

It's the same old story with the Blue Jays, and it's becoming increasingly unacceptable for a team that wants to make the playoffs.

Speaking of the playoffs, let's take a look at the standings.

As of now, all American League teams (except the Yankees and the Rays, who have a doubleheader to play on Tuesday) have eight games left to play.

And let's just say nothing is decided yet.

The Blue Jays are two games away from the playoffs. Ahead of them are the Texas Rangers (one game away from the playoffs) and the Chicago White Sox.

Both teams hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Blue Jays.

So to make the playoffs under the current format, Toronto must win three more games than the White Sox and two more than the Rangers.

That's easier said than done. Especially for the 2026 Blue Jays.

Note that the Rangers have the same record as the Astros, and the White Sox are one game behind the Guardians. So the division leaders could change quickly.

The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker advantage over Cleveland, but the Rangers are three games ahead of the Blue Jays.

Right now, the Central Division is really the problem for the Blue Jays in terms of the standings, as we all know.

As for the Astros, it's not yet clear who holds the tiebreaker advantage over Toronto. They're one game ahead of the Blue Jays.

The two teams are split 3-3 in head-to-head play this season, and their records within their own divisions serve as the other tiebreaker.

All of this to say that, with eight games left before the playoffs, qualifying for the postseason is becoming increasingly unlikely in Toronto.

• The Red Sox can clinch a playoff spot as early as today.

• 200 strikeouts for the pitcher who just signed a contract extension with Washington.

• What will the Yankees do without their captain?

• Jose Ramirez reaches 1,000 career RBIs with Cleveland.

• Season over for Logan Webb.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.