The All-Star game offers a nice mid-July break in the grind of the MLB regular season, and this year, the stars are all headed to Philadelphia for the first-ever Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park.
With the biggest names in baseball getting ready to put on a show Tuesday, the starting pitchers for each side are ready to step into the spotlight.
Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez will start for the National League, while Toronto’s Dylan Cease will toe the slab for the American League. Each player will make their first All-Star start. Let’s take a quick look at their journey to this point in their careers and how this season has unfolded for them.
Overall, the National League is a slight -135 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the game total set at 7.5 runs.
Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Sanchez starts for the National League as he participates in his second career All-Star game. Sanchez had an outstanding breakthrough season last year, going 13-5 and piling up 212 strikeouts in 202 innings while helping the Phillies to the NL East title. He pitched well in the playoffs and has continued his emergence as a true ace this season.
Sanchez is second in the NL Cy Young race at +550 on DraftKings Sportsbook, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski (arm), who is not participating in the All-Star game this year as he deals with arm fatigue. Sanchez could end up a great value pick in that race if The Miz misses any time, and he’ll step in as the starter for this game at his home ballpark.
Earlier this season, Sanchez had a dominant stretch of 50.2 consecutive scoreless innings, surpassing Grover Alexander’s franchise record and setting an all-time MLB mark for southpaws. His impressive run ranks as the fifth-longest single-season scoreless streak in MLB history, dating back to 1893.
Even though his scoreless streak has ended, Sanchez remains practically unhittable — especially at home, where he boasts a 0.86 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He’ll be facing a tough AL lineup but still deserves the honor of kicking things off at Citizens Bank.
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays
American League manager John Schneider will give the ball to his own ace, Dylan Cease, whom he declared would start whether or not Cam Schlittler participated in this year’s contest.
Cease has been undeniably excellent in his first season with Toronto. Like Sanchez, he’s second in his League’s Cy Young race, according to the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He is +145, just narrowly behind Schlittler at +120.
In his 17 starts for Toronto, Cease is 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA and a 2.19 FIP. He has 148 strikeouts in 98.1 innings and came close to a no-hitter in his last outing against the Giants.
In a unique connection between the two pitchers, Cease will be the first Blue Jays pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009 — and Sanchez will be the first Phillies pitcher to start since… Halladay in 2011.
Both these aces are having great seasons, and they’ve definitely earned the honor to represent their leagues in the Midsummer Classic.
