The Toronto Blue Jays’ season is hanging by a thread.

Toronto enters Tuesday’s game 3.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot, leaving no margin for error.

Former San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease was prepared to give them everything he had.

In a recent interview conducted in collaboration with Casino.org Canada (prior to his injury), former Friar Dylan Cease was asked whether Toronto’s depleted rotation and desperate playoff situation created additional pressure on him.

His answer perfectly summarized the mentality a team wants from its ace.

“I definitely feel the responsibility, but I wouldn’t say I feel any pressure,” Cease said last Friday. “I just want to get the job done, and I’m always going to put the effort into it to achieve this. I’m going to die on the battlefield for my team.”

Unfortunately, Cease’s injury might prevent him from doing exactly that.

Dylan Cease knows nothing matters right now except winning

Cease’s mentality hasn’t changed because Toronto’s season hasn’t gone according to plan. He joined a team that was an out away from being world champions. The right-hander is focused on helping get the Blue Jays across the finish line.

“To me, the biggest thing is just bringing a high level of focus, intensity, and willpower to our game,” Cease said. “At the end of the day, I know we’ve had a long season, but our skills are pretty honed.”

Then he simplified Toronto’s entire predicament.

“At the end of the day, it’s winning,” Cease said. “I don’t care if they make six errors, and that’s why we win, or we hit six home runs, it’s all about winning, and we’ll do it whatever way we can.”

Winning is all that matters right now. Toronto doesn’t have time to worry about style points. They need victories and plenty of help elsewhere.

Cease revealed how he is turning the pressure of Toronto’s playoff fight into motivation.

“I care deeply about winning, and I want nothing more than to win, but I don’t let it get to a point mentally to where it debilitates me. I let it get me to the point where it gives me motivation and focus.”

Toronto will enter the most important games of its season without the pitcher who just vowed he’d “die on the battlefield” for his teammates.

Dylan Cease’s injury couldn’t have arrived at a worse time for Blue Jays

Cease has been scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday against Baltimore after experiencing fatigue in his right shoulder. An MRI provided encouraging news on Monday. Cease has inflammation but no structural damage and won’t require surgery.

Whether he’ll pitch again this season remains uncertain. That’s devastating for Toronto. Cease has been everything the Blue Jays could have reasonably hoped for after signing a seven-year, $210 million contract during the offseason. His record is 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and is second in the American League with 239 strikeouts across 169.0 innings.

He’s also in the AL Cy Young conversation against Cam Schlittler.

When asked about John Schneider praising Cease’s durability, his answer now feels relevant.

“It’s such a fundamentally important thing to have durability if you’re gonna go out, play, and perform consistently,” Cease said. “If I’m not out there, then it doesn’t matter how hard you throw, how good you are, it’s just not usable.”

That’s exactly Toronto’s problem now.

Cease has the stuff. He has the mentality. He understands the responsibility accompanying his contract and being the ace of a team desperately chasing October. “You want to live up to the contract,” Cease said.

The Blue Jays just might not be able to put him on the mound. If the Blue Jays somehow keep their season alive long enough for Cease to take the mound again, there shouldn’t be any question about what they’re going to get from him.

Everything he has left.

Chris Spiering

Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and now covers San Diego State Men’s Basketball. He also contributes regularly about the Padres. Chris is an athlete and is a huge fan of San Diego sports.