Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays has been named the American League All-Star starting pitcher, becoming the third pitcher in franchise history to earn this honour. He joins Dave Stieb (1983 and 1984) and Roy Halladay (2009) as the only Blue Jays to start an All-Star Game.
Cease's Dominant First Half
Cease was selected for the starting role by American League manager and Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Sunday. The right-hander leads the majors with 148 strikeouts at the All-Star break and ranks third in the AL with a 2.56 ERA. Through 17 starts, he has a 6-4 record.
Cease's selection was bolstered by a dominant performance in his most recent start, where he came within three outs of a no-hitter. That game, a 10-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on July 10, likely sealed his place as the starter. Cease previously threw a no-hitter in 2024 while with the San Diego Padres and narrowly missed another in 2022.
Free Agent Signing Pays Off
Cease signed a seven-year, $120-million free agent contract with the Blue Jays in December 2025. The signing has proven to be a gem for Toronto, as Cease has emerged as one of the league's most dominant pitchers. This will be his first All-Star appearance in his eighth MLB season.
Cease's bid for the starting role was also aided by the withdrawal of New York Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, who leads the AL in ERA, WHIP, and bWar but opted out after making a start on Saturday. Several other elite pitchers, including Tarik Skubal, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Hunter Brown, have been sidelined by injuries or have underperformed relative to their usual standards.
National League Starter
Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start for the National League in the All-Star Game.
According to Blue Jays manager John Schneider, Cease's ability to strike out opponents in bunches separates him from most pitchers. Cease's 148 strikeouts lead the majors, and his 2.56 ERA places him third in the American League.
