Dylan Cease nearly threw his second career no-hitter on Wednesday, before Heliot Ramos singled to open the ninth inning in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 10-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Cease struck out 11 batters and threw a career-high 118 pitches during the outing.
How Heliot Ramos broke the no-hit bid
Cease dominated the first 14 batters of the game. He maintained the no-hit bid through eight full innings, though he struggled with command at times, walking Willy Adames in the fifth, Drew Gilbert in the sixth, and Rafael Devers in the seventh.
The bid nearly collapsed in the eighth when Bryce Eldridge hit a deep drive to left-center. Center fielder Daulton Varsho saved the no-hitter by making a running catch into the wall.
The streak ended immediately in the ninth. Cease threw two 97 mph fastballs to Ramos before giving up a 96 mph sinker that resulted in a line-drive single to center field.
“I’m thinking he’s probably going to be looking for a slider at some point,” Cease said. “I figured if I go a couple of heaters and a sinker in, it would surprise him. I wish I got it a little more in, but a good batter got a hit. It’s baseball.”
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher
Manager John Schneider pulled Cease immediately after the hit. Former Giants reliever Tyler Rogers finished the game, recording the final three outs on just four pitches.
The pitch count agreement between Cease and Schneider
In a modern era where managers often pull pitchers early to protect arms, Schneider gave Cease an unusual amount of leeway. The two established a sliding scale for the pitch count as the game progressed.
- After the 6th inning: Cease requested 120 pitches.
- After the 7th inning: Cease requested 130 pitches.
“Dylan came in after the sixth (inning) and said, ‘I’ve got 120.’ I said, ‘OK.’ And then after the seventh, he said, ‘I’ve got 130,’”
John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager
Schneider stated that he was willing to let the opportunity happen because of Cease’s durability and the upcoming All-Star break, which allows for extra rest. Cease admitted he thought 130 pitches might be necessary to finish the job.
Cease’s All-Star Game prospects and AL dominance
This performance bolsters Cease’s candidacy to start the All-Star Game for the American League in Philadelphia. Cease has a 2.56 ERA in 98.1 innings and leads all AL starters in WAR at 3.7. He also holds the league lead in strikeouts with 148.
The decision to start the Midsummer Classic rests with John Schneider, who will manage the American League. Cease is currently competing with New York Yankees righty Cam Schlittler, who leads qualified AL starters in ERA (2.01) and ranks second in WAR (3.6).
“I think a lot of that’s dependant on if Cam can start,” Cease said. “I feel like he’s probably earned it, but if he’s not throwing, then I’d love to throw my name in the hat.”
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher
If selected, Cease would be the third Blue Jays pitcher to start an All-Star Game, following Dave Stieb (1983, 1984) and Roy Halladay (2009). When asked if he was up to the task, Cease responded, “It’s out of my pay grade, but if asked, I’d probably say yes.”
Historical context and the “Arraez” factor
Cease is one of 35 pitchers in major league history to throw multiple no-hitters. He previously accomplished the feat on July 25, 2024, while playing for the San Diego Padres against the Washington Nationals. The last pitcher to record multiple no-hitters before this bid was Mike Fiers of the Athletics on May 7, 2019.
For the Blue Jays organization, a completed no-hitter would have been the first since September 2, 1990, when Dave Stieb threw one in Cleveland.
The timing of the hit by Heliot Ramos was particularly poignant for Cease. The next batter in the lineup was Luis Arraez, who broke up a no-hit bid by Cease on September 3, 2022, while Cease was with the Chicago White Sox and Arraez was with Minnesota.
“I’m just happy it wasn’t Luis (Arraez) that broke it up again.”
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher
Blue Jays’ offensive explosion and series context
While Cease provided the pitching dominance, the Toronto offense provided a massive cushion. The Blue Jays jumped on the Giants early with a five-run first inning, capped by a grand slam from Kazuma Okamoto off Logan Webb.
The scoring continued late into the game. In the ninth inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer and George Springer followed with a solo shot, both off Ryan Walker.
This 10-0 victory follows a revitalizing 9-3 win on Tuesday night. The team had been struggling with an offensive dry spell, with hitting coach David Popkins noting that hitters had been in “protective states” and “stressed states.” The blowout win in San Francisco serves as a mental release for a lineup that had previously been chasing pitches rather than hunting the zone.
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