The Toronto Blue Jays were guaranteed to have one All-Star at the Midsummer Classic this summer (per the one player rep guarantee), and right off the hop, Ernie Clement has earned his plane ticket to Philadelphia.

The Jays’ second baseman earned over 3.2 million votes to lead all AL players, which guarantees his spot on the AL roster alongside manager John Schneider, who will lead the team after the Jays made the World Series last year. Clement is a fan favourite amongst the Blue Jays organization, and the fan voting process is also why Kazuma Okamoto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Andres Gimenez, and Alejandro Kirk, who has just 51 at-bats under his belt, are in the second phase of the voting process.

Looking at the bigger picture of the group above, the only real player who has a shot of making the squad is Okamoto – at least when it comes to earning your place. Guerrero Jr. and Gimenez aren’t the top names at their position in the AL, and Kirk shouldn’t be in the conversation because he has been hurt for a good part of the opening few months.

However, a few names are lurking on the Jays roster who could be in Philly next month, not listed above.

Right-hander Louis Varland shouldn’t be making any plans for mid-July. Barring an absolute wreck over the next couple of weeks, the Jays’ closer is heading to Citizens Bank Park.

Varland ranks second amongst relievers with his 1.9 fWAR and boasts a stellar 0.84 ERA with just four earned runs allowed through 43 innings. The Minnesota product also boasts a 1.55 FIP, 0.930 WHIP, and a 12.1 K/9 for his efforts, and has established himself as one of the top reliever arms amongst the big leagues, not just within the AL.

He’s converted all 16 save opportunities and has been an absolute stalwart in the Jays’ bullpen when the club has needed someone to lock things down. Varland is heading to Philly – no questions asked.

The Jays’ biggest offseason acquisition this past winter is having a strong debut season North of the border.

Across 14 starts and 78.2 innings, Dylan Cease owns a 2.75 ERA and a 2.38 FIP, which leads all Jays starters. Amongst starters with 70+ innings pitched, he sits seventh in all of Major League Baseball with a 2.8 fWAR, and he leads the league with his 13.5 K/9. Cease also ranks third in terms of punchouts (118) and fourth with his FIP.

While he has been a bit inconsistent at times with his command, evident by his 4.0 BB/9, Cease has been one of the league’s top arms and could find even another level if he can reel in the free passes. Cease will have at least two more starts before the All-Star Game rolls around, and if he keeps on his current trajectory, he should see his name pencilled in the AL lineup, regardless of whether he pitches or not at the event.

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