Toronto Blue Jays Pitchers of the Month - August 2026

In part fueled by the trade deadline, the Jays used more pitchers in August than in any previous month of the season. New acquisitions José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti made their Blue Jays debuts, and so did long-time Blue Jays prospect Ricky Tiedemann. August also saw the final innings pitched for the beloved Kevin Gausman and less-beloved Jeff Hoffman. Soriano flirted with the official rankings for this PotM list, but he will have to settle for Honourable Mention status. He made five starts and threw the third-most innings (28.1) of anyone on the Jays staff, settling for a 2-1 record behind a 3.73 FIP and 0.4 fWAR.

Spencer Miles and Louis Varland have both made a number of appearances on our PotM lists, and maybe it’s voter fatigue, or maybe it’s the ebbs and flows of a long season, but they are both on the outside looking in this time around. Miles pitched the most innings of anyone (13.1) this month without giving up a home run, and Varland picked up seven saves, bringing his season total to 31, but he was also saddled with his first blown save of the season. 

No. 3: Shane Bieber

• 24.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 22 K, 6 BB, 0.5 fWAR

Shane Bieber only made four starts in August, but he was the only Jays pitcher to pick up more than two wins. Wins aren’t everything, certainly, and are arguably the worst metric through which to measure a pitcher. BUT making quality starts and sticking around long enough to pick up a win in a season where the bullpen has been extremely taxed, and the offense has been (at times) stagnant is an important thing. Bieber’s last start (7 IP, 7 K, 0 ER) was not only his best of the season, it was the ninth best start by Game Score of any Jay this season.

No. 2: Max Scherzer

• 32.1 IP, 3.68 FIP, 28 K, 12 BB, 0.6 fWAR

Speaking of Game Score, Max Scherzer had the best start of the month by that metric. Going seven innings of one-hit ball with only one walk against 10 Ks facing Seattle in arguably his best regular season start as a Jay – Scherzer wasn’t surprised. He also moved into ninth place on the all-time strikeout list in that start, bypassing Gaylord Perry’s 3,534. Earlier in the month, he entered the top 10 after moving beyond Walter Johnson. Scherzer is now only 19 Ks behind the technically active, but currently IL’d, Justin Verlander for the eighth spot on that list. Also worth noting that Scherzer threw the most innings of any Toronto pitcher this month. Again, as we focus on optimizing the wear on the bullpen down the stretch, the workhorses are really showing their worth.

No. 1: Dylan Cease

• 31 IP, 2.03 ERA, 43 K, 0.8 fWAR

Sticking with the Game Score theme, Dylan Cease has half of the Jays' top 10 Game Scores this season. Only one of them came in August, but his continued dominance and steady hand have not only kept him in the Cy Young conversation, but the team in the playoff picture. In August, Cease made four quality starts, picked up a pair of wins and continued to lead the American League in strikeouts. Bryan Jaeger touted the contract that brought Cease here, and while it may not be the primary accolade he’s chasing, Cease is now our back-to-back PotM for the first time in his career.