3 things we need to see from the Blue Jays before the season ends

The Toronto Blue Jays are technically still alive in the 2026 American League Wild Card playoff race, but their season is effectively over. It would take a miracle for them to make the postseason and those don’t happen very often in major league baseball. 

So, with that acknowledged, the focus is now on what this team needs to accomplish before the season officially wraps up. Here are three things that the Blue Jays need to do before they pack their bags and head home for the offseason. 

What should we see from the Blue Jays the rest of the way?

No more Dylan Cease

Cease has been must-see TV just about every time he has taken the mound this season, but he should not pitch another inning for the Blue Jays in 2026. His short and long-term health has to be top priority with the focus solely on next season. 

His last start against the Texas Rangers on Friday night was genuinely tough to watch. The Blue Jays have already announced that he won’t pitch on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles due to shoulder fatigue, and, more concerningly, will undergo an MRI.

Even if that imaging is being done strictly as a precaution, Cease simply should spend the remainder of 2026 resting and recovering from throwing roughly 170 innings this season. There’s already a ton of mileage on his arm. 

More at-bats for the rookies

With nothing left to play for over the final week, manager John Schneider should be looking to get his rookies all the opportunities they can handle. The Blue Jays need to know what they have in guys like Brett Bateman, Sean Keys, and Charles McAdoo. 

Bateman has already gotten the most runway and appears as if he will factor into the team’s 2027 plans. Keys and McAdoo are bigger question marks. The former has flashed legitimate power, while the later has an intriguing combination of physical traits. 

Getting these bats into the lineup more will probably mean playing some of the regulars less—and that’s perfectly fine. Get them off their feet. None of them have anything to prove, while these youngsters will be motivated. 

Another milestone for Max Scherzer

The writing is on the wall for Scherzer even though he hasn’t yet announced his intention to retire after the 2026 season. He’s 42-years-old, has dealt with a litany of injuries this season, and hasn’t exactly performed up to the level he expects of himself. 

There might still be a chance for him to make more history, though. Scherzer entered Monday ninth on MLB’s all-time strikeout leaderboard—and 11 behind frenemy Justin Verlander. Does he have enough left in the tank to leapfrog him? 

Complicating matters is that Verlander is set to make the final start of his career on Monday night in Detroit, giving him a chance to add to his total. Regardless of what happens, it would be a treat to watch Scherzer at least one more time. 

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