The Toronto Blue Jays are in a tight race for a playoff berth, sitting 2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final Wild Card spot as they begin a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers. With 9 games left in the season and a 76-77 record, the Blue Jays’ hopes rest partly on the shoulders of two pitchers acquired or already on the roster: Dylan Cease and Jose Soriano.
Cease, who started for Toronto on Friday against the Rangers, offered high praise for Soriano, who was set to take the mound on Saturday. According to Cease, Soriano has made an immediate impact since the Blue Jays acquired him in a trade deadline move.
“Soriano will step up. He’s nasty. He sits upper 90s with a bowling ball sinker and nasty off-speed, so every time he takes the ball, I feel really good about it,” Cease said, via Casino.org. Cease added that anyone taking the ball for the team now has “a chance to be a difference maker” given the stakes of the season.
With Toronto, Soriano has posted a 3-1 record with a 4.27 ERA across 8 starts. While those statistics fall short of dominant performance, Soriano remains a key piece in the Blue Jays’ rotation as they push toward the playoffs.
Cease emphasized the team’s determination despite a difficult season. “I think we feel great,” he said. “We don’t ever go into any game or any series not expecting to do well.” He noted that the Blue Jays have “played well in the second half of the season” and have shown improvement in recent weeks.
The veteran pitcher acknowledged the team’s struggles throughout the year but stressed the importance of maintaining focus. “It obviously hasn’t been our year in a lot of ways, and we haven’t done what we needed to do and want to do for a lot of the season, but the fact that we’re still in it and we’re still close really says it all,” Cease said.
With the Rangers also sitting at the same record as Toronto, the three-game series carries significant weight. Cease made clear that the Blue Jays view every remaining game as essential. “Every single game that you ever play is a must-win for us,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of their Wild Card chase.
Key facts
- The Blue Jays are 2 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for the final Wild Card spot with 9 games remaining
- Jose Soriano was acquired by Toronto in a trade deadline deal
- Soriano is 3-1 with a 4.27 ERA in 8 starts with the Blue Jays
- Dylan Cease praised Soriano’s pitching ability, noting he sits upper 90s with a bowling ball sinker
- The Blue Jays are 76-77 and tied with the Rangers heading into their three-game series