​Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start for the National League, while Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays will take the mound for the American League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday. The Blue Jays announced Cease as the AL starter on Sunday, following an earlier report from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman confirming Sánchez’s selection. Initially, Cam Schittler was considered a potential AL starter, but NY manager Aaron Boone announced on Sunday that Schittler will not participate in Tuesday’s game. Sánchez is slated to pitch in his home ballpark, with the All-Star Game set to be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Sánchez, 29, earns his All-Star nod for the second time in his career. Through an MLB-high 20 starts, he has produced a 2.70 ERA and a 1.186 WHIP, along with 144 strikeouts and 25 walks over 127.1 innings pitched. His 5.4 wins above replacement leads MLB this season, continuing his dominant form after leading baseball in WAR last year and finishing second in Cy Young Award voting. The Phillies, currently at 53-43, find themselves two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings as they chase the division crown.
Cease, making his first All-Star appearance at age 30, has posted a 2.56 ERA and a 1.129 WHIP, accompanied by an AL-best 148 strikeouts and 44 walks over 98.1 innings pitched. In his most recent outing on Tuesday, Cease carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against San Francisco before surrendering a leadoff single in the ninth in a 10-0 victory for the Blue Jays. Cease’s performance has solidified his status as one of the premier pitchers in the American League, which earned him the All-Star start.
As the All-Star festivities approach, Sánchez will have the chance to shine on his home turf, bringing Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park to the spotlight. Cease will look to translate his dominant regular-season numbers into All-Star success on the national stage. This story will be updated with further details and reactions as the All-Star Game draws closer.