Dylan Cease has been selected to start the 2026 MLB All-Star Game for the American League after an impressive first half of the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, the team confirmed on Sunday. Cease’s stellar performance puts him in exclusive company, alongside Blue Jays legends Dave Stieb and Roy Halladay, as the only pitchers from the team to have started an All-Star Game.
Recently, Cease came tantalizingly close to a no-hitter in a game against the San Francisco Giants, losing it in the ninth inning. His outstanding play has earned him a 2.56 ERA in 98.1 innings, along with a league-leading 148 strikeouts in the American League.
With a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 3.7, as per FanGraphs calculations, Cease tops the list of AL starters, surpassing notable pitchers like Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees and Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins.
In a highly anticipated matchup, Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies is set to take the mound for the National League at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday evening.