Blue Jays Announce Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer News Before Phillies Game
The Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation will finally be whole again.
Prior to the Blue Jays' series opener matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, manager John Schneider told reporters that Dylan Cease will start on Tuesday and Max Scherzer will get the ball on Wednesday.
Dylan Cease set to start Tuesday for Blue Jays
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) June 8, 2026
Max Scherzer Wednesday
Shane Bieber rehab start at AAA Thursday
Both starters have been on the injured list, resulting in a razor thin rotation for the Blue Jays, who are also without Jose Berrios (Tommy John surgery) and Cody Ponce (torn ACL) for the rest of the season. Righty starter Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation) has not pitched yet this season either and is currently on a rehab assignment. Bieber will make another rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
In the meantime, the Blue Jays will be getting back two key starting pitchers in Cease and Scherzer.
Cease has been on the 15-day IL since May 25 with a left hamstring strain suffered in his previous start one day prior. The right-hander made one rehab start for Buffalo, where he tossed four innings and allowed five runs.
On the season, Cease is 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 62 innings and 11 starts.
As for Scherzer, the future Hall of Fame starter has been on the IL since April 25 with forearm and ankle injuries. Scherzer made two rehab starts with Buffalo, posting a 4.05 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched.
Scherzer, 41, has been limited to just five starts and 18.2 innings for the Blue Jays this season, producing an abysmal 1-3 record and 9.64 ERA in a small sample size.
Having Cease and Scherzer back is great news given Toronto only had three healthy starters in Trey Yesavage, Patrick Corbin and Kevin Gausman.
After winning the American League pennant in 2025 and going all the way to Game 7 of the World Series, the Blue Jays are 32-34 this season. They're currently seven games back in the AL East and a half-game back of the third and final Wild Card spot.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 4:13 PM.