Blue Jays have two major success stories despite shaky 2026 season

The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the biggest disappointments in Major League Baseball this season. They might still have a chance to make the postseason, but considering they were in the World Series a year ago, it's been a lackluster year.

But despite the down season, two key players've been huge success stories for the Blue Jays this season. If it weren't for these two players, their playoff hopes would've been over a long time ago.

As ESPN's Bradford Doolittle highlighted, starting pitcher Dylan Cease and closer Louis Varland are the two big success stories of the 2026 Blue Jays. If it weren't for them, this season would've already ended a long time ago.

Cease and Varland are major success stories for Blue Jays

"We'll call this one a tie between a starting pitcher (Dylan Cease) signed to a pricey free-agent deal over the offseason, and a relief pitcher (Louis Varland) who emerged as possibly the game's best reliever in an MLB universe that includes San Diego's Mason Miller," Doolittle writes.

Cease and Varland are two of the best players in all of MLB this season and are likely the only reason the Blue Jays even have a chance of making the postseason this year.

So far in 2026, Cease has 6.1 bWAR with an 11-5 record and a 2.38 ERA with an MLB-best 236 strikeouts.

He's a legitimate Cy Young candidate, and while he might not win the award, his career-best year with the Blue Jays has come at a good time.

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Varland, on the other hand, has been a shutdown closer for the Blue Jays. While he might not be as good as Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres, Varland might have a case as the American League's best closer.

This season, in 68 outings, Varland has a 5-6 record with 3.4 bWAR and a 1.32 ERA in 75 innings of work. His 33 saves are a strong mark, but not the most in the AL.

What's been so impressive about Varland is his ratios this season. He's struck out 93 batters, has walked 22, and most impressively, has given up just two home runs. His 336 ERA+ shows just how incredible he's been.

Varland is one of the best relievers in baseball, and alongside Cease, they've been a major success story for the Blue Jays amid a frustrating 2026 season.

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