August 22 Gameday: Dylan Cease starts as Blue Jays look to get back into win column
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Aug 22, 2026, 13:08 EDTUpdated: Aug 22, 2026, 13:09 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays are in need of a win on Saturday.
Wins are at a premium in the American League as following Friday night’s 3-1 loss against the New York Yankees, coupled with an extra-inning victory by the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays now sit 1.5 games back of them for the final Wild Card spot.
Sitting at 63-67 through 130 games, the Blue Jays will turn to Dylan Cease as they look to get back into the win column. Through 23 starts this season, Cease is 7-5 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.
Cease has been lights out for the Blue Jays this year as across his 137.2 innings pitched, the right-hander has struck out 201 batters – tied for second-most in MLB – and has held opponents to a .179 average.
Saturday will mark Cease’s third start against the Yankees this season. Over his two outings, Cease has thrown 11.1 innings and has allowed seven runs on six hits and seven walks while striking out 19.
Countering Cease for the Yankees will be left-hander Ryan Weathers. Acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins this off-season, Weathers has made 24 starts and is 5-7 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
The 26-year-old has thrown 134 innings over his 24 outings and during that span has struck out 140 batters and limited opponents to a .241 average. Weathers utilizes a five-pitch mix to keep hitters off balance and leads with his changeup, having thrown that pitch 25% of the time.
The last time Weathers took the mound was last Sunday at Rogers Centre during the Yankees’ 4-2 extra-innings victory. In that outing, Weathers turned in a pitching line of 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K in what was one of his best outings of the 2026 campaign.
In need of a boost, the Blue Jays will welcome back Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to their lineup. Guerrero was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list a week ago after being kneed by George Lombard Jr.
Through 115 games this season, Guerrero is batting .263 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs. Before being placed on the IL, Guerrero was in a good stretch at the plate, having batted .310 across his past seven games.
Here’s how the lineups look Saturday at Yankee Stadium:
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, New York
First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 7-5 record, 2.42 ERA, 137.2 IP, 201 SO, 59 BB
New York Yankees – Ryan Weathers: 5-7 record, 3.56 ERA, 134 IP, 140 SO, 38 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Brett Bateman – RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- George Springer – DH
- Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
- Ernie Clement – SS
- Daz Cameron – LF
- Charles McAdoo – 2B
- Myles Straw – CF
Yankees:
- Trent Grisham – CF
- Ben Rice – DH
- Heliot Ramos – LF
- Luis García Jr. – 1B
- Spencer Jones – RF
- George Lombard Jr. – SS
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
- Austin Wells – C
- José Caballero – 3B
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