Dylan Cease earned the honor on Sunday, courtesy of manager John Schneider.
Congratulations are in order for Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who was named the starting pitcher for the American League All-Star team on Sunday afternoon.
Cease earned the honor via his manager John Schneider, who will skipper the AL squad. He will start opposite Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, as the game will be played in his home ballpark.
About Cease's season
Signed to a seven-year deal worth $210 million in the offseason, Cease has lived up to the billing for Toronto, going 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA. In 98.1 innings, he's struck out 148 batters, leading the American League. He's made 17 starts despite missing some time with a hamstring issue.
He's on track for his sixth straight season of 30 starts or more and his sixth straight season of 200 strikeouts or more.
In a season full of injury issues for Toronto, he's been a stabilizing force, outside of the time he spent on the injured list himself.
This is his first All-Star Game appearance.
Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesHow many other Blue Jays pitchers have started the All-Star Game?
As noted by the team, Cease is the third different Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game, joining Dave Stieb (1983, 1984) and Roy Halladay (2009).
In total, Stieb was a seven-time All-Star and an ERA champion. He spent 16 years in the big leagues, including 15 with the Jays. He won 176 games in his career and was part of the 1992 World Series team.
Halladay is one of the best pitchers in baseball history and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. An eight-time All-Star, he also won two Cy Young Awards. He went 203-105 for his career, pitching to a lifetime 3.38 ERA.
About the All-Star Game
The game will be played on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Home Run Derby will be played on Monday night.
Three members of the Blue Jays are headed to Philly: Cease, Ernie Clement and Louis Varland. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was selected by the fans, but has elected not to participate.
Up next for Toronto
The Jays will wrap up the first half of the season on Sunday when they take on the Padres again at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman will take the mound for Toronto while German Marquez pitches for San Diego.
Gausman is just 4-8 with a 4.32 ERA while Marquez is 4-2 with a 5.02.
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