Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease leads MLB in strikeouts after dazzling performance vs Los Angeles Angels

It wasn’t the most efficient outing, but it was dominant where it mattered.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease delivered a standout performance Monday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, needing 110 pitches but overpowering the Los Angeles Angels lineup.

Cease struck out 12 batters over five innings to earn his first win with Toronto, finishing just one strikeout short of his career best, as the Blue Jays secured a 5–2 victory.

The right-hander, allowed just two runs on five hits while issuing two walks. He capped his outing by striking out Jorge Soler with a blazing 99 mph fastball.

With the performance, Cease now leads Major League Baseball with 44 strikeouts. He sits ahead of Jacob Misiorowski (42), Gavin Williams (40), and both José Soriano and Cristopher Sánchez, who each have 39.

Toronto’s bullpen held things steady the rest of the way. Braydon Fisher tossed a scoreless sixth inning, Louis Varland struck out three of the four batters he faced, and Tyler Rogers recorded the final two outs in the eighth.

Closer Jeff Hoffman rebounded with a strong ninth, striking out three while allowing one hit to earn his third save.

On the other side, Reid Detmers took the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits across six innings.

He struck out five and walked two as the Angels were fanned a season-high 18 times, extending their losing streak to three games.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will send left-hander Patrick Corbin (0–0, 4.66 ERA) to the mound tonight against Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2–0, 3.47 ERA).

First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET, with coverage on Sportsnet and FanDuel Network.

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