Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease struck out the side in his lone inning of work as the American League’s starting pitcher at the 2026 All-Star Game from Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Cease, a first-time All-Star, set the tone with a strikeout of designated hitter Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies in front of the home crowd fans, before punching out New York Mets superstar Juan Soto on four pitches.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman drew a walk against Cease in a marathon nine-pitch at bat, before Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams struck out swinging to end the dominant showing from the AL’s starter.
Cease was tabbed to get the ball for the junior circuit by Toronto manager John Schneider over New York Yankees righty and Cy Young favourite Cam Schlittler.
Schlittler would later pull out of the Midsummer Classic after he threw 6.2 innings on Saturday to close out his first half.
Cease, 30, became just the third pitcher in Blue Jays history to start the All-Star Game after Roy Halladay (2009) and Dave Stieb (1983 & 1984).
He was relieved to begin the bottom of the second inning by Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick. The AL was leading 3-0 at the time.
A native of Milton, Georgia, Cease has pitched to a 2.56 earned-run average with an AL-leading 148 strikeouts across 17 starts and 98.1 innings pitched.
He also leads the American League in fWAR (3.7), K/9 (13.55) and FIP (2.20).
Blue Jays closer Louis Varland was called into the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, surrendering one hit and recording a strikeout in a scoreless frame.
Varland struck out Nationals outfielder James Wood to open the outing, before Chicago Cubs speedster Pete Crow-Armstrong reached base on a single up the middle.
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman would line out to shortstop for the second out, while St. Louis Cardinals backstop Ivan Herrera grounded out to third base to end the inning.
Ernie Clement, who earned an automatic spot in the starting lineup after finishing as the AL’s top vote-getter, went 0-2 while batting out of the nine spot in the order.
He was replaced at second base by Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana to open the bottom of the sixth inning.
The AL defeated the NL 4-0 on Tuesday for the 11th time in the past 13 games, with New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger being named the MVP.
