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Assessing which Blue Jays deserve to be All-Stars in 2026
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Photo credit: © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Jun 17, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 17, 2026, 15:15 EDT
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The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is set to be played next month in Philadelphia, and the Blue Jays could be well-represented beyond manager John Schneider.
The starting lineups for both the American League and the National League are decided by fan vote, which often works out well for the Blue Jays, considering they have the entire country of Canada behind them. Early returns on the polling confirm this. 
Still, being voted in by the fans and actually deserving to be an All-Star are two different things. These are the three Blue Jays who should be honoured at the Midsummer Classic. 

Dylan Cease

Cease has been everything the Blue Jays could have hoped for after signing him to a seven-year, $210 million free agent contract this past offseason. He’s been one of the five best starting pitchers in the AL by just about every metric. 
Toronto’s ace leads the Junior Circuit in strikeouts (110), ranks second in FIP (2.37), and is fifth in both ERA (2.71) and batting average against (.208). His bright red Baseball Savant page suggests nothing about his performance has been a fluke. 
Cease would probably finish as the runner-up in the AL Cy Young Award race behind New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler if the season ended today. He should be a lock to be named an All-Star for the first time in his career. 

Ernie Clement

Clement appears likely to be named the AL’s starting second baseman as the winner of the fan vote—there may not be a more well-liked Blue Jay. However, he has also done enough to deserve the honour regardless of what the fans say. 
The 30-year-old is slashing .299/.318/.452 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs, and an American League-leading 20 doubles. He has been Toronto’s most consistent hitter since Opening Day with a knack for delivering in key spots. 
Further helping Clement’s case is the overall lack of competition. Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has the counting stats but not the ratios. Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers has missed extended time. He’s simply the most deserving candidate. 

Louis Varland

Varland is the most irrefutable of the three players on this list. He’s been the best reliever in the American League by a ridiculous margin, right up there in terms of sheer dominance with San Diego Padres superstar closer Mason Miller. 
The fireballer has allowed just four earned runs across his 35 appearances, which is tied for second in the AL with several others. He’s struck out 34.4% of the batters he’s faced while converting all 13 of his save chances since becoming the Blue Jays’ closer. 
Varland’s combination of workload and results is unparalleled among his competitors. He should be the pitcher who comes out of the bullpen to slam the door shut if the American League is protecting a lead heading into the ninth inning. 

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