Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease strengthened his case to serve as the American League’s All-Star game starter earlier this week with his most impressive outing of the season.
Cease came very close to making franchise history in a rare no-hit bid, which was disrupted by the San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos in the ninth inning.
“The 30-year-old Cease threw a career-high 118 pitches, 81 for strikes, as he sought the first solo no-hitter in the majors since 2024,” the Associated Press reported. “The Blue Jays have gone nearly 36 years without a no-hitter. Dave Stieb threw one on Sept. 2, 1990.”
And immediately after his near no-hitter, Cease moved the spotlight to a young breakout star who is pitching for one of his team’s division rivals.
Toronto Blue Jays Ace Dylan Cease Sends New York Yankees, Cam Schlittler Message Before All-Star Game
After his historic performance, Cease was asked about potentially starting the All-Star game for the American League. And his answer was deferential to another candidate from the New York Yankees.
“A lot of that’s dependent on if Cam (Schlittler) can start,” Cease said, according to 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 though his historic no-hit bid ended in heartbreaking fashion, Cease strengthened what has already been an outstanding first season in Toronto and certainly vaulted himself into the conversation to serve as the game’s starter over Schlittler, who hasn’t logged nearly as many innings.
But rather than lobbying aggressively for the All-Star Game’s biggest honor, Cease pointed toward one of the league’s brightest young stars.
New York Yankees Phenom Earns All-Star Praise From Division Rival Toronto Blue Jays
Cease’s comments reflected just how impressive Schlittler’s emergence has been.
“Schlittler has yet to play a full season in Major League Baseball,” Bill Ladson noted for MLB.com. “Yet he is one of the best pitchers on the planet, leading AL pitchers in WAR per Baseball Reference (3.4), ERA (2.08) and ERA+ (203). He said he wouldn’t mind starting the game for the AL, but he would understand if the Yankees said no.”
Those numbers explain why Cease believes the young Yankee deserves the opportunity despite his limited major league experience. But Schlittler could be held out depending on how his schedule of regular season starts lines up.
If Schlittler ultimately gets the nod, Cease indicated that he’d support the decision. But if the Yankees decide to protect their young ace instead, the Blue Jays veteran has certainly built a compelling case of his own after nearly ending one of baseball’s longest no-hit droughts.