July 20 Gameday: Dylan Cease takes the mound as Blue Jays open series with Tampa Bay

Photo credit: © D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Jul 20, 2026, 17:34 EDT

With every loss that the Toronto Blue Jays suffer, it feels like they are getting closer to being put in a position to be sellers at Major League Baseball’s 2026 trade deadline.

Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, a contest in which the Blue Jays could only generate four hits, dropped their record to 46-53 through 99 games played. With only 63 games to play, the Blue Jays find themselves in last place in the American League East, 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, and would have to pass five teams if they have any hopes of returning to the postseason.

FanGraphs gives the Blue Jays a 14% chance of making the playoffs as play begins on July 20, so the games that remain before the deadline should really help paint a clearer picture of how the roster will look in the days that follow.

On Monday night in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays will hand the ball to All-Star Dylan Cease. The last time Cease stepped on a mound was in the bottom of the first during the All-Star Game, an outing in which he struck out the side and picked up the win.

The last time Cease toed the rubber wearing a Blue Jays uniform was back on July 8 in San Francisco. During that game, Cease threw eight hitless innings before allowing a leadoff single to Heliot Ramos to open the ninth. The right-hander threw 118 pitches and struck out 11 to pick up his sixth win of the 2026 campaign.

Through 17 starts this year, Cease is 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Over his 98.1 innings pitched, Cease has struck out 148 batters, the second most in MLB, and has held opponents to a .190 average. Cease faced the Rays earlier this season at Rogers Centre and was his dominant self, turning in a pitching line of 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K in a 5-3 Blue Jays victory.

Countering Cease for the Rays will be fellow AL All-Star Nick Martinez. After signing with the Rays this off-season, Martinez has been impressive, posting a record of 8-2 with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP over his first 18 starts.

While Martinez won’t overpower anyone, he uses a six-pitch mix to limit hard contact to keep teams in check. Martinez has allowed a .247 average and only struck out 62 batters over 105.1 innings pitched, but has limited the free passes by only walking 19 over that span.

After a rough June that saw Martinez post a 5.14 ERA, the righty has bounced back in July over his first two outings. In his two starts, Martinez is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP, and has held opponents to a .184 average, giving the Blue Jays a tough task in the series opener.

While not many Blue Jays have seen much of Martinez in their career, one player who has found some success off the 35-year-old is George Springer. Over 17 at-bats, Springer is batting .353 off him, and of his six hits, two have come via the long ball. After scoring only two runs in the past two games, a boost from Springer could help spark a lineup that has left much to be desired in 2026.

Here’s how the lineups look on Monday at Rogers Centre:

Location: Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Centre

First Pitch: 7:07 PM ET

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590