July 14 Gameday: MLB All-Star Game takes centre stage at Citizens Bank Park
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jul 14, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 15, 2026, 09:22 EDT
The 96th Major League Baseball Midsummer Classic is set to get underway this evening at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In the Toronto Blue Jays’ case, they will have manager John Schneider leading the American League squad and will square off against Dave Roberts’ staff, who are set to lead the National League.
On the player side, the Blue Jays will be represented by AL starter Dylan Cease, starting second baseman Ernie Clement, and closer Louis Varland, who will be in the AL’s bullpen.
On Sunday afternoon, it was reported that Cease would take the ball as the starter for the AL club on Tuesday. The decision in the AL came down to Cease and New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlitter, but before Cease was named, Schlitter announced he wouldn’t pitch in the All-Star Game as he focuses on the second half of the season.
For the first time in 17 years, when the late Roy Halladay started an All-Star game, a Blue Jay will be making the start. Cease earned this honour after going 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over his first 17 starts in a Blue Jays uniform.
Even after dealing with a hamstring strain that forced him to the 15-day injured list, Cease still sits second in MLB with 148 strikeouts over his 98.1 innings pitched. After signing the largest free agent contract in franchise history, Cease has given the Blue Jays everything they could have hoped for to begin his tenure with the Blue Jays.
Clement will play second base and bat ninth in Schneider’s order on Tuesday. After being released by the Athletics during spring training of 2023, the Blue Jays signed Clement to a minor league contract, and for the past four seasons, the 30-year-old has been a part of the Blue Jays’ organization.
After a strong showing in 2024, Clement earned himself a key role during the 2025 run to the World Series, including setting a postseason record for most hits with 30.
Clement has picked up where he left off last season, as across 93 games he is batting .296 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs. Clement’s strong first half and the support of an entire nation behind him helped allow him to become the AL’s leading vote-getter for the 2026 rendition of the All-Star Game.
Varland’s first half of the 2026 season was special to watch. The 28-year-old has pitched in 44 games for the Blue Jays and has gone 3-3 with a 1.10 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. After taking over the closer’s role in April, Varland has picked up 19 saves and has held opposing teams to a .199 average.
While it remains to be seen if Varland will pitch on Tuesday, expect strikeouts if he does, as the right-hander has punched out 67 batters over his first 49 innings of the season.
Pitching for the NL on Tuesday will be Cristopher Sánchez. Starting in his home park, Sánchez has been elite this season, going 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in his first 20 starts of the season.
Relying on a heavy sinker-changeup combination, Sánchez has struck out 144 batters over 127.1 innings and has allowed only 25 walks during that span. With the home crowd behind him, it will be interesting to see how long Sánchez pitches for.
Three Canadian-born players, including Tristan Peters, Otto Lopez and Cade Smith, will take part in the 2026 All-Star Game.
Here’s how the lineups look for the All-Star Game:
Location: Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
First Pitch: 8:00 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590
Starting Pitchers
American League – Dylan Cease: 6-4 record, 2.56 ERA, 98.1 IP, 148 SO, 44 BB
National League – Christopher Sánchez: 11-4 record, 2.62 ERA, 127.1 IP, 144 SO, 25 BB
Lineups:
American League:
- Mike Trout – CF
- Yordan Alvarez – DH
- Shea Langeliers – C
- Junior Caminero – 3B
- Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
- Cody Bellinger – RF
- Ben Rice – 1B
- Riley Greene – LF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
National League:
- Kyle Schwarber – DH
- Juan Soto – RF
- Freddie Freeman – 1B
- C.J. Abrams – SS
- Max Muncy – 3B
- Ozzie Albies – 2B
- Brandon Marsh – LF
- Andy Pages – CF
- Drake Baldwin – C
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