logo
2 Blue Jays pitchers named finalists for end-of-season awards
alt
Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Nov 3, 2026, 06:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 2, 2026, 23:43 EST
Comments
The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching success from 2026 is receiving recognition across Major League Baseball. 
On Monday, both Dylan Cease and Louis Varland were nominated for end-of-season awards from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. 
Cease was nominated for the American League Cy Young Award after finishing his first season in Toronto by making 29 starts and going 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Cease recorded 239 strikeouts – tied for third-most in MLB –  and limited opponents to a .180 average across 169 innings, good for the second-best mark in MLB, trailing only Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski. 
In nine of Cease’s 29 starts, he was able to record at least 10 strikeouts and finished the 2026 campaign by recording the highest strikeout rate of his career at 34.9 per cent. The 30-year-old allowed only 11 home runs, the fewest of his career. 
Cease’s best month of the season came in July, when across five starts, he went 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. Cease limited opponents to a .125 average across his 36 innings, and came within three outs of a no-hitter during a 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on July 8. 
While Cease faded down the stretch, in large part due to right shoulder inflammation that ultimately forced him to the 15-day injured list on September 23, his first season in Toronto exceeded any expectations that came when he was signed to a seven-year, $210-million contract last offseason. 
The other two nominees in the AL for the Cy Young Award were New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler and Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick. The winner will be announced on November 11.
Varland was nominated for the AL Relief Pitcher of the Year Award. After being acquired from the Minnesota Twins before the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Varland was expected to serve as one of the setup men for closer Jeff Hoffman. 
In mid-April, following prolonged struggles by Hoffman to open the season, Varland was thrust into the closer’s role, and he never looked back. Varland finished the season with 35 saves – tied for fifth-most in MLB – in 37 opportunities. 
Varland appeared in 71 games with the Blue Jays and went 5-6 with a 1.27 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The 28-year-old struck out 97 batters across 78 innings, and limited opponents to a .196 average. 
The other candidates nominated for AL Relief Pitcher of the Year are Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith. The winner will be announced on November 11. 
Sponsored by bet365


News
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News