If Dylan Cease wasn't already at the top of the list among candidates to start Tuesday's All-Star Game for the American League, Wednesday's start against the San Francisco Giants can only be considered a point in his favour.
The Toronto Blue Jays ace flirted with history, tossing eight no-hit innings on 118 pitches before Heliot Ramos spoiled the party with a leadoff single to open the ninth.
Even though Cease didn't get to join Dave Stieb as the only Blue Jays pitchers to finish a no-no, his outing capped a first half that has been everything Toronto could have hoped for when it signed the right-hander to a seven-year, $210-million deal in the off-season.
Wednesday marked Cease's 17th start of the season, through which he now has a 2.56 ERA in 98.1 innings while racking up an AL-best 148 strikeouts — a pretty compelling case to take the ball to open the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.
Cease also leads AL starters in WAR, as calculated by FanGraphs, at 3.7, checking in ahead of New York Yankees righty Cam Schlittler (3.6) and Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan (3.1).
"I think a lot of that's dependant on if Cam can start," Cease said of starting the All-Star Game after his outing Wednesday. "I feel like he's probably earned it, but if he's not throwing, then I'd love to throw my name in the hat."
Schlittler currently leads qualified AL starters in ERA (2.01), pitching to a 9-5 record and 131 strikeouts over 112 innings. The 25-year-old, however, is lined up to pitch for the Yankees on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, which could take him out of the running to pitch for the Junior Circuit in Philadelphia.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to Blue Jays skipper John Schneider, who will handle the managerial duties for the AL on Tuesday.
Should Schneider select Cease, the 30-year-old would become the third Blue Jays pitcher to start in an All-Star Game, joining Dave Stieb (1983 and 1984) and Roy Halladay (2009).
So, should everything line up and Schneider opts to stay in-house for the honour, would Cease be up to the task?
"It's out of my pay grade, but if asked, I'd probably say yes."
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