​Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease bolstered his case to start the American League All-Star Game earlier this week with what was by far his most dominant outing of the season. He came perilously close to pitching a no-hitter that would have marked a franchise milestone, but the bid was spoiled in the ninth inning by San Francisco’s Heliot Ramos. The Associated Press highlighted that Cease, a 30-year-old veteran, threw a career-high 118 pitches, 81 for strikes, in an effort to deliver the majors’ first solo no-hitter since 2024. Historically, Toronto had not seen a no-hitter in nearly 36 years; Dave Stieb’s gem on September 2, 1990 remains the franchise standard.
In the immediate aftermath of the near-miss, Cease shifted the focus away from himself and onto one of his own team’s division rivals who has emerged as a breakout star this season. After such a landmark performance, the discussion turned to whether Cease might be the AL’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. Cease was quick to acknowledge the possibility but also gave credit where credit is due, deferring to Yankees right-hander Cam Schlitter as the potential starter. “A lot of that’s dependent on if Cam (Schlittler) can start,” Cease told MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “I feel like he’s probably earned that. If he’s not throwing, then I would love to throw my name in the hat.”
Even as Cease’s near no-hitter ended in heartbreak, his performance reinforced what has already been a stellar first season in Toronto and significantly boosted his standing in the race to be the All-Star Game starter. The spotlight, however, quickly shifted to Schlittler, a young star whose emergence has been nothing short of impressive. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson noted that Schlittler “has yet to play a full season in Major League Baseball,” yet already ranks among the best pitchers in the American League in several key metrics—leading AL pitchers in WAR (3.4) per Baseball Reference, ERA (2.08), and ERA+ (203). Schlittler indicated a willingness to start the game for the AL but also acknowledged that the Yankees could opt to protect their young ace by giving him rest or adjusting the rotation.
Cease, meanwhile, made a compelling case for himself, demonstrating that he can be a premier contributor in high-leverage moments and a dominant force on the mound. His near-miss and subsequent acknowledgment of Schlittler’s impressive rise illustrate the dynamic balance in the AL’s planning for the All-Star Game: honoring a veteran with proven capability while simultaneously prioritizing the team’s young, high-ceiling talent. If Schlittler ultimately receives the nod, Cease has already shown enough to justify support for his own candidacy should circumstances align in his favor. If the Yankees decide to protect their budding ace and give him the opportunity to rest, Cease’s performance during that standout start still stands as a powerful argument for his inclusion in the festivities and underscores why he remains a central figure in Toronto’s rotation.
This piece originally appeared on Forbes.com as part of their coverage surrounding the All-Star selections and the unfolding discussions around who should start the game. It reflects the then-current landscape of voting and rotation considerations, capturing Cease’s near-historic outing, Schlittler’s meteoric rise, and the broader dynamics at play among AL teams as they prepare for the midseason showcase.