September 7 Gameday: Dylan Cease starts for Blue Jays in series opener against Athletics
Photo credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2026, 20:15 EDTUpdated: Sep 7, 2026, 19:55 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to bounce back.
Following Sunday’s 6-1 loss in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays dropped to 72-72 through 144 games.
Fortunately for the Blue Jays, the Cleveland Guardians lost earlier today to the Baltimore Orioles, which moved Toronto a 0.5 game back of the Guardians for the American League’s final Wild Card spot.
A win over the Athletics tonight would push the Blue Jays over the .500 mark and put them back into a playoff spot with 17 games to play.
On Monday, the Blue Jays will turn to their ace Dylan Cease as they look to get back into the win column. Through 26 starts this season, Cease is 10-5 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. The right-hander has struck out 221 batters, tied for the third-most in MLB, across 156.1 innings pitched and held opponents to a .176 average during that span.
Tonight’s start is set to be the second time Cease will face the Athletics this season. In his first outing of the year at Rogers Centre, Cease turned in a pitching line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K during an 8-7 Blue Jays victory.
Countering Cease for the Athletics is left-hander Jacob Lopez. Through 23 games (20 starts) this season, Lopez is 6-4 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The 28-year-old has struck out 103 batters across 105.0 innings and been hit at a .251 clip.
Lopez has been on a good run over his past seven outings, highlighted by a 1-0 record, 2.45 ERA and 1.12 WHIP during that span. The lefty has struck out 50 batters over his 40.1 innings during those starts and limited opponents to a .190 average in August.
With a left-hander on the mound, the Blue Jays are going with their typical heavy right-handed bat approach. The only two left-handed bats in the starting lineup are Brett Bateman, who is leading off, and Nathan Lukes, who finds himself slotted in the six-spot.
While Lukes has struggled against lefties this season, highlighted by a .156 average, Bateman has excelled through his first 37 career at-bats off southpaws. The 24-year-old is batting .351 with a .390 on-base percentage and has driven in six of his seven RBIs against left-handers.
Location: Sutter Health Park – Sacramento, California
First Pitch: 10:05 p.m. ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 10-5 record, 2.25 ERA, 156.1 IP, 221 SO, 65 BB
Athletics – Jacob Lopez : 6-4 record, 4.71 ERA, 105.0 IP, 103 SO, 52 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- Brett Bateman – CF
- George Springer – DH
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Andrés Giménez – SS
- Myles Straw – LF
Athletics:
- Henry Bolte – CF
- Jeff McNeil – 1B
- Zack Gelof – 3B
- Lawrence Butler – RF
- Carlos Cortes – LF
- Max Muncy – DH
- Donovan Walton – 2B
- Alika Williams – SS
- Jonah Heim – C
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