BASEBALL: Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez, Blue Jays' Dylan Cease selected to start All-Star Game

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez has been selected as the starting pitcher for the National League, while Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease will start for the American League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Sanchez, a 29-year-old making his second All-Star Game appearance, enters the matchup with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA across 20 starts this season.

Only Milwaukee Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby, with 12 wins, has more victories than Sanchez in Major League Baseball. The Phillies starter had the second-best ERA in the league at 2.00 when the All-Star rosters were announced on July 4, although he struggled in his next outing, allowing nine runs over 3 1/3 innings two days later.

From April 30 to June 3, Sanchez delivered 50 2/3 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. The streak set a major league record for the longest scoreless stretch by a left-handed pitcher and ranked fifth overall in MLB history.

Despite Citizens Bank Park being considered a hitter-friendly venue, Sanchez has been dominant at home this season. In nine road starts, he has posted a 4-3 record with a 4.97 ERA, allowing 10 home runs over 54 1/3 innings. At home, however, he has recorded a 7-1 record and a remarkable 0.86 ERA in 11 starts, surrendering just two homers across 73 innings.

Cease, a 30-year-old right-hander making his All-Star Game debut, has compiled a 6-4 record with a 2.56 ERA in 17 starts. He leads the American League with 148 strikeouts, while his 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings are tied with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski for the best mark in the majors.

In his most recent start on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants, Cease carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He finally allowed a leadoff single to Heliot Ramos on his 118th and final pitch of the game.

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will feature two of the league’s top pitchers as Sanchez and Cease represent their respective leagues in one of baseball’s most anticipated annual events.

—Field Level Media/Reuters