Baseball Wiretap

Eleven American League pitchers combined to allow three hits and strike out 15 National League batters in a 4-0 win in Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. The performance marked the AL's fourth shutout in All-Star history and one of the most dominant team pitching efforts the event has seen.

The 15 strikeouts fell one shy of the nine-inning All-Star record, while the three hits allowed tied for the second-fewest ever. Notably, only one pitch from the American League side reached 100 mph, with several pitchers relying on varied repertoires rather than pure velocity.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha, who threw a scoreless third inning, reflected on the collective effort.

"That was very cool," said Wacha. "The fact that we didn't give up any runs against that lineup and that roster, it was a pretty cool feeling."

The National League's absence of several top-ranked starters drew attention throughout the night. Only two of the NL's top 10 pitchers in FanGraphs WAR, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, actually appeared in the game, with stars like Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani sitting out under a rule exempting Sunday starters.

Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the situation before the game.

"I do think it's really important that we always reevaluate our approach to the All-Star Game in order to get the very, very best players actually participating in that game," said Manfred.

Sanchez, pitching in his home ballpark for the Phillies, struggled in the first inning, throwing 34 pitches and issuing two walks. New York Yankees teammates Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice delivered back-to-back RBI hits to stake the AL to an early 3-0 lead, marking the first time since 1962 that two Yankees recorded RBIs in the same All-Star Game.

Bellinger, who earned MVP honors for his go-ahead single, described his approach at the plate.

"I just try to keep it simple," said Bellinger. "Single up the middle and, you know, the pitching today was just dominant. I mean, it was nasty, hard to score some runs. So, you know, just try to stay within myself and just try and get the job done there."

Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease set the tone by striking out the side in the first inning, becoming just the seventh pitcher in All-Star history to record three strikeouts in an opening frame.

"I always want to strike guys out," said Cease. "I just wanted to throw strikes and not walk guys."

Cease also revealed a lighthearted moment before the game regarding his opening pitch selection.

"Before the game, I was pondering, do I start with a changeup?" said Cease. "I thought it would be funny, but Justin Verlander talked me out of it."

The Houston Astros will trade veteran starter Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers. The move aims to reduce payroll and bring clarity to Houston's crowded pitching staff.

Triple-A left-hander Colton Gordon will head to Milwaukee as part of the package, according to a source. Gordon has thrown 95 1/3 major-league innings since debuting last season and carries five years of team control.

McCullers is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million extension he signed before the 2021 season. It remains unclear how much of the remaining salary Milwaukee will absorb. Multiple team sources said Houston has attempted to trade McCullers for much of the past year.

McCullers was previously included in a proposed package sent to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2025 season in exchange for Nolan Arenado, a deal Arenado ultimately vetoed using his no-trade clause.

McCullers has battled significant injuries since 2021. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and flexor tendon repair in 2023, an operation that sidelined him for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

McCullers has thrown just 359 2/3 innings since his Tommy John surgery, with more than half of that total coming during the 2021 season, the only year he has made more than 22 starts. He has made eight starts this season with a 6.86 ERA and is currently on the injured list with a rotator cuff impingement.

McCullers made his third minor-league rehab start last week, increasing his pitch count to 77 in that outing.

Major League Baseball has secured owner support to let players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the first time, but disagreements with the MLBPA over hotel rooms, tickets and mandatory participation have complicated the plan, sources told ESPN. Emails and documents obtained by ESPN show the dispute has spanned several months.

MLB plans to shut down the sport for 11 days to accommodate a West Coast All-Star Game ahead of a six-team Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium. The MLBPA has resisted signing off on LA28's proposal, instead seeking terms similar to the agreement the NHL and NHLPA reached with the International Olympic Committee for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.

Interest in Olympic participation has grown following the success of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with the United States, Dominican Republic and champion Venezuela already qualified for the tournament.

Negotiations have touched on hotel rooms, tickets, insurance, NIL rights and a mandatory-participation agreement that would place noncompliant players on the restricted list without pay from July 12 to Aug. 3, according to a copy of the league's proposal. MLB's goal is to ensure the tournament features top stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.

The union has objected specifically to the restricted-list provision and to commissioner Rob Manfred's proposed authority to discipline players for cause with fines or unpaid suspensions. The MLBPA has not yet submitted its own counterproposal.

Bryce Harper voiced strong support for playing in the Games.

"It's such a great opportunity for all athletes to come together in all different walks of life, all different cultures. I love it," said Harper. "I think it'd be great. I hope it works out. I grew up watching the Summer Olympics. I was in one of the greatest eras of Olympics of all time. Michael Phelps, are you kidding me? There was nothing like it."

MLBPA special adviser Ian Penny wrote in a June 26 email that the union is seeking fair treatment for players given the financial value they would bring to the Games.

"Ideally," wrote Penny, "that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to accomplish is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or commercial rights lost, both individually and collectively."

LA28 vice president of sports Niccolo Campriani defended the league's offer in a separate email to top officials.

"We believe this package appropriately recognizes the significance of MLB players participating in the LA28 Olympic Games while balancing the many interests involved," wrote Campriani. "No league is getting more favorable terms than this."

In order to accommodate the tournament, MLB has proposed ending the first half July 9, 2028, holding the All-Star Game July 11, and running the Olympic tournament from July 13 to July 19 before resuming the regular season July 21. The league has also proposed pushing the 2028 season start back a week to March 23 rather than extending the postseason.

Each Olympic roster would include 28 players, raising concerns about the toll on major league rosters and pitcher health, concerns that have similarly limited participation in the World Baseball Classic. Harper reiterated his hope that a deal gets finalized.

"If I have an opportunity to put the American flag and USA on my chest again at the level of the Olympics, it would mean everything to me," said Harper. "I've wanted it for a long time, and I would love to be there. You're trying to grow this game internationally, and I don't think there's a better place to do that than the Olympics."

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer offered sharply different views Tuesday on the league's "Level the Field" advertising campaign, which promotes a salary cap ahead of the next collective bargaining agreement. Both spoke from the All-Star Game.

Manfred defended the league's decision to run the ads publicly.

"I think when you have a difficult public issue, particularly when the other side of the issue is being very public about what their views are on the negotiation, I think it's incumbent on us to keep our fans informed of our view of the world," said Manfred. "Particularly given sometimes the other side may not be completely accurate or fair in terms of their recitation of what's going on."

Meyer pushed back, arguing the campaign contradicts the league's own claims about the sport's health.

"I have watched over the last two years [how] the owners, the commissioner's office, try to convince fans, the consumers of their product, that the product is broken," said Meyer. "I think it's perverse. Case in point is leading up to this All-Star Game, any of us who watch baseball ... are seeing ads not so much for the All-Star Game, not promoting the game, not promoting the players, [but] promoting the league's desire for a salary cap."

The current CBA expires Dec. 1, with a lockout widely expected before a new deal is reached. MLB has proposed a salary cap and floor for the first time in league history, while the union has countered with a mechanism to raise spending at the bottom without imposing a ceiling at the top.

Manfred pointed to rule changes like the pitch clock as evidence the league has built momentum it wants to protect.

"We've got that momentum by listening to our fans and making changes that candidly the MLBPA was not interested in," said Manfred. "Those changes have paid off in terms of creating that momentum. And the best way to lose momentum is to stand still."

Manfred also cited payroll disparity as justification for a cap, noting a $441 million gap between the highest- and lowest-spending teams.

"The gap is $441 million," said Manfred. "It defies human experience to ask a fan to think that the bottom end of that gap has the same opportunity to win as the top end."

Meyer rejected that framing, arguing a cap would protect ownership rather than improve competition.

"The owners want a system that not only guarantees their profits, not only increases their franchise values, but essentially is a form of subsidized mediocrity," said Meyer. "A salary cap is the ultimate excuse not to compete."

Asked whether competitive smaller-market teams undercut his argument, Manfred acknowledged the point but maintained his broader stance.

"It gives Bruce talking points," said Manfred. "We know that. But I think from our perspective, the more important issue is what is the aggregate data over time? I think our view of the world is that over a very long period of time, there's a very strong relationship between who gets into playoffs and who proceeds."

Manfred declined to speculate on potential involvement from President Donald Trump, who has previously said he supports a salary cap for the sport.

"I think it would be wildly, wildly inappropriate for me to speculate about what the President of the United States might do or not do in a hypothetical situation," said Manfred. "We know this. He is a great sports fan and he is really knowledgeable about the business of sports, so it doesn't surprise me he's interested. But beyond that, I'm going to pass."

Roch Cholowsky  has agreed to a record signing bonus with the Chicago White Sox after they made him the No. 1 overall pick in last week's draft. The shortstop out of UCLA landed a $10.35 million bonus, according to MLB.com, roughly $1 million below the pick's slot value but $1.1 million higher than the previous record.

The prior mark of $9.25 million was shared by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Condon, the second and third picks in the 2024 draft. Cholowsky became Chicago's first No. 1 selection since 1977, when the franchise took Hall of Fame outfielder Harold Baines.

Cholowsky threw a ceremonial first pitch to Baines on Sunday afternoon at Rate Field. He had visited the organization in early June, meeting coaches, players, front office staff and owner Jerry Reinsdorf during a trip that included Braden Montgomery's walk-off home run in his major-league debut.

The 21-year-old posted a .320/.452/.636 slash line with 21 home runs in 60 games during his junior season at UCLA. The Athletic's draft analyst Keith Law, who ranked Cholowsky as his top overall prospect, described him as a polished shortstop with power and strong instincts on both sides of the ball.

The Chicago White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick Saturday, taking the consensus top prospect in this year's class despite late buzz around Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey. Cholowsky posted a 1.088 OPS during his junior season and profiles as a well-rounded shortstop with a fast track to the majors.

The Tampa Bay Rays followed by selecting Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson, the top-ranked high school position player in the draft. Emerson earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors and fills a need for a Rays organization still searching for stability at shortstop.

The Minnesota Twins took Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey third overall after he hit .397 with 20 home runs this season, continuing the school's pipeline of first-round catchers.

The San Francisco Giants then selected UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora fourth, the top pitching prospect in a class considered thin on arms.

The Pittsburgh Pirates rounded out the top five by taking LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, a draft-eligible sophomore who batted .353 with strong instincts in center field.

2026 MLB Draft Results

First Round

1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Texas)
3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
4. San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Derek Curiel, CF, LSU
6. Kansas City Royals: Zion Rose, LF, Louisville
7. Baltimore Orioles: Eric Booth Jr., CF, Oak Grove HS (Mississippi)
8. Athletics: Drew Burress, CF, Georgia Tech
9. Atlanta Braves: AJ Gracia, CF, Virginia
10. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
11. Washington Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
12. Los Angeles Angels: Jared Grindlinger, RF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS (California)
13. St. Louis Cardinals: Trevor Condon, CF, Etowah HS (Georgia)
14. Miami Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (Florida)
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
16. Texas Rangers: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (Florida)
17. Houston Astros: Logan Hughes, LF, Texas Tech
18. Cincinnati Reds: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
19. Cleveland Guardians: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
20. Boston Red Sox: Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina
21. San Diego Padres: Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS (Florida)
22. Detroit Tigers: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
23. Chicago Cubs: Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi
24. Seattle Mariners: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
25. Milwaukee Brewers: Trey Ebel, SS, Corona HS (California)
26. Atlanta Braves: Carter Beck, CF, Indiana State
27. New York Mets: Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas
28. Houston Astros: Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame
29. San Francisco Giants: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS (South Carolina)
30. Kansas City Royals: Taylor Rabe, RHP, Mississippi
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Blake Bryant, RHP, Citizen's Christian HS (Georgia)
32. St. Louis Cardinals: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
33. Tampa Bay Rays: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island Charter HS (South Carolina)
34. Chicago White Sox: Landon Thome, SS, Nazareth Academy HS (Illinois)
35. New York Yankees: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
36. Philadelphia Phillies: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (California)
37. Colorado Rockies: Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia

Second Round

38. Colorado Rockies: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA
39. Toronto Blue Jays: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (South Carolina)
41. Chicago White Sox: Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights HS (Mississippi)
42. Washington Nationals: Chase Brunson, OF, TCU
43. Minnesota Twins: Carson Tinney, C, Texas
44. Pittsburgh Pirates: Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook HS
45. Los Angeles Angels: Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech
46. Baltimore Orioles: Ty Head, OF, North Carolina State
47. Athletics: Mason Edwards, P, USC
48. Atlanta Braves: Kaiden McCarthy, P, Vermont Academy
49. Tampa Bay Rays: Ben Blair, P, Liberty
50. St. Louis Cardinals: Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford HS
51. Pittsburgh Pirates: Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
52. Miami Marlins: Ethan Kleinschmit, P, Oregon State
53. Arizona Diamondbacks: Carson Kerce, SS, Georgia Tech
54. Texas Rangers: Connor Comeau, 3B, Anderson HS (Texas)
55. San Francisco Giants: Kaden Waechter, P, Jesuit HS (Florida)
56. Kansas City Royals: Jack Slightom, P, Lyons Township HS (Illinois)
57. Houston Astros: Wes Mendes, P, Florida State
58. Cincinnati Reds: Eric Becker, 3B, Virginia
59. Cleveland Guardians: Logan Schmidt, P, Ganesha HS (California)
60. San Diego Padres: Elliot Lascelles, SS, Upper Canada College HS
61. Detroit Tigers: Tyson LeBlanc, SS, Kansas
62. Chicago Cubs: Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
63. New York Yankees: Sean Duncan, P, Terry Fox SS (Canada)
64. Philadelphia Phillies: Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State
65. Seattle Mariners: Jake Brown, OF, LSU
66. Milwaukee Brewers: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU

Competitive Balance Round B

67. Boston Red Sox: Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina
68. St. Louis Cardinals: Andrew Williamson, OF, Central Florida
69. Detroit Tigers: Evan Dempsey, P, Florida Gulf Coast
70. Cincinnati Reds: Mulivai Levu, 1B, UCLA
71. Miami Marlins: Ryan Peterson, P, Sam Houston State
72. St. Louis Cardinals: Dawson, Montesa P, West Virginia
73. Athletics: Gabe Gaeckle, P, Arkansas
74. Minnesota Twins: Brett Renfrow, P, Virginia Tech

Compensation Picks

75. Chicago Cubs: Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State

Third Round

76. Colorado Rockies: Jack Natili, C, Cincinnati
77. Chicago White Sox: Joey Volchko, P, Georgia
78. Washington Nationals: Luke Williams SS, Franklin Regional HS (Pennsylvania)
79. Minnesota Twins: Ethan Wachsmann, P, Grandview HS (Colorado)
80. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jason DeCaro, P, North Carolina
81. Los Angeles Angels: Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
82. Baltimore Orioles: Dominic Voegele, P, Kansas
83. Athletics: Jacob Dudan, P, North Carolina State
84. Atlanta Braves: Jensen Hirschkorn, P, Kingsburg HS (California)
85. Tampa Bay Rays: Gavin Giese, P, Dana Hills HS (California)
86. St. Louis Cardinals: Caden Ferraro OF, Texas Tech
87. Miami Marlins: Cam Kozeal SS, Arkansas
88. Arizona Diamondbacks: Brayden Dowd OF, Florida State
89. Texas Rangers: Brody Bumila P, Bishop Feehan HS (Mass.)
90. San Francisco Giants: Peyton Bonds OF, Rutgers
91. Kansas City Royals: Maxx Yehl P, West Virginia
92. New York Mets: Aiden Robbins OF, Texas
93. Houston Astros: Keon Johnson SS, First Presbyterian HS (Georgia)
94. Cincinnati Reds: Ty Horn P, Nebraska
95. Cleveland Guardians: Tre Broussard, OF, Houston
96. Boston Red Sox: Jace Mataczynski, SS, Hudson HS (Wisconsin)
97. San Diego Padres: Ryan Lynch, P, North Carolina
98. Chicago Cubs: Carson Jasa, P, Nebraska
99. New York Yankees: Brendan Brock, C, Oklahoma
100. Philadelphia Phillies: Ruger Riojas, P, Texas
101. Seattle Mariners: Nathan Taylor, P, Cincinnati
102. Milwaukee Brewers: Kyle Jones, OF, Florida
103. Toronto Blue Jays: Ryan Cooney, SS, Oregon

Fourth Round

104. Colorado Rockies: Ben Davis, P, Mississippi State
105. Chicago White Sox: Eric Segura, P, Oregon State
106. Washington Nationals: Cooper Harris, P, Flower Mound HS (Texas)
107. Minnesota Twins: Tommy LaPour, P, TCU
108. Pittsburgh Pirates: Andruw Giles, OF, Basic HS (Nevada)
109. Los Angeles Angels: Rylan Lujo, OF, Georgia
110. Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Roberts Jr., OF, Jackson Prep HS (Mississippi)
111. Athletics: Roman Martin, SS, UCLA
112. Atlanta Braves: Cole Dennis, P, Bishop Snyder HS (Florida)
113. Tampa Bay Rays: Collin Bland, OF, Houston HS
114. St. Louis Cardinals: Dee Kennedy, SS, Kansas State
115. Miami Marlins: Wessley Roberson, OF, Glynn Academy HS (Georgia)
116. Arizona Diamondbacks: Josh McDevitt, P, Missouri
117. Texas Rangers: Hudson Calhoun, P, Mississippi
118. San Francisco Giants: Carlos Martinez, P, Hofstra
119. Kansas City Royals: Dominic Battista, OF, Oswego East HS (Illinois)
120. New York Mets: Shane Sdao, P, Texas A&M
121. Houston Astros: Kam Durnin, SS, Missouri
122. Cincinnati Reds: Ethan Norby, P, East Carolina
123. Cleveland Guardians: Kade Lewis, 3B, Wake Forest
124. San Diego Padres: Robbie Lavey, C, George Washington
125. Detroit Tigers: Dominic Pellegrin, SS, Holy Cross HS (Louisiana)
126. Chicago Cubs: Dylan Marionneaux, P, Northwestern State
127. New York Yankees: Paul Contreras, OF, Cal State Fullerton
128. Philadelphia Phillies: Deven Sheerin, P, LSU
129. Seattle Mariners: Trevor Lucas 3B, UNC Wilmington
130. Milwaukee Brewers: Julian Garcia, P, St. John Bosco HS (California)
131. Toronto Blue Jays: Will Brick, C, Christian Brothers HS (Tennessee)
132. Los Angeles Dodgers: Russell Sandefer, P, Florida

Comp Picks

133. Houston Astros: Beau Peterson, 3B, Mill Valley HS (Kansas)
134. San Diego Padres: Alex Conover, OF, Oklahoma State
135. Philadelphia Phillies: Jaxon Jelkin, P, Kentucky

The Athletics fired pitching coach Scott Emerson on Monday following a stretch in which the team lost 13 of its last 14 games before the All-Star break. 

Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will take over as interim pitching coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Athletics currently sit at 41-55 with the worst ERA in the American League at 5.21.

Oakland's pitching staff has struggled since the team moved into Sacramento's Sutter Health Park last year, a ballpark that ranks among the most hitter-friendly in baseball, trailing only Coors Field in offensive environment. Starter J.T. Ginn has been a bright spot this season, but the rotation has otherwise lacked consistency.

Luis Severino has been sidelined since late May with a shoulder strain, while veterans Jeffrey Springs and Aaron Civale carry ERAs of 6.08 and 5.42, respectively.

Emerson, 54, began his coaching career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization before joining the Athletics as a minor-league pitching coach in 2003. He moved to the major-league staff as bullpen coach in 2015 before being promoted to replace longtime pitching coach Curt Young in 2017.

The Athletics reached the postseason three times under Emerson in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The pitching staff ranked in the top half of the majors in ERA during his first four full seasons as coach but fell to 24th or worse in each of the last five seasons.

Both dugouts and bullpens emptied onto the field Sunday after a Lucas Erceg pitch struck Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander on the left hand during the seventh inning of Baltimore's 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals. Alexander suffered a non-displaced fracture as a result.

Alexander took several steps toward first base and shouted at Erceg before Orioles manager Craig Albernaz restrained him from approaching the mound. Players and pitchers from both teams rushed onto the field during the commotion, though no punches were thrown and no one was ejected.

Albernaz addressed the injury's impact on his roster ahead of Baltimore's return from the All-Star break.

"Definitely a gut punch," said Albernaz, referencing the team's upcoming series against Houston on Friday without Alexander available.

Alexander leads the Orioles with a .312 batting average and was not made available to reporters following the game. Erceg maintained the pitch was unintentional, despite the fact that the previous batter, Samuel Basallo, had just homered to extend Kansas City's deficit to 8-2.

"There's no ill intent. That's baseball," said Erceg. "I mean, guys are going to get hit, and you have to, I guess, kind of understand the situation. I understand why he's mad. Obviously, you don't ever want to get hit, especially in the hand. So sorry about that."

Erceg acknowledged his own difficult season while addressing the incident.

"I've got like a 5-something ERA," said Erceg. "I mean, I'm not going out there to hit guys and put guys on and give up homers and this and that."

The loss dropped Kansas City to a season-high 21 games under .500 at 38-59, marking the team's eighth sweep of the season, the most in the majors. The Royals have now lost five straight games entering the All-Star break.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro described the mood surrounding his team's recent struggles.

"Frustration is one word. Disappointment, anger," said Quatraro. "You know, every emotion that you can think of we're battling, not getting any results and it stinks."

Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start Tuesday's All-Star Game for the National League in his home ballpark, facing Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League. The Blue Jays confirmed Cease's start on Sunday, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is managing the NL squad, named Sanchez as his starter.

Roberts explained the decision to hand Sanchez the honor in his home city.

"I think he deserves it. He's the hometown ballplayer and I think the city of Philly will enjoy watching him and supporting him," said Roberts. "I had a conversation with him this morning. ... He was very grateful. In a time when guys are not wanting to participate, this guy in the Midsummer Classic for fans, I think this is a good thing. He's very excited about pitching."

Sanchez enters the game with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA, ranking third in the majors with 144 strikeouts. His 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak has been one of the season's top pitching storylines.

Cease is 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA for Toronto and nearly threw his second career no-hitter Wednesday against San Francisco before it was broken up in the ninth inning. He becomes the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009.

Cease learned of the assignment from Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who will lead the AL squad, during a team meeting Sunday.

"It's pretty surreal. I didn't know what to say. Everyone's saying, 'Give a speech,' and I'm like, I was pretty speechless, so it was just a really cool experience," said Cease. "It's really cool how all of these things have lined up, you know, even being able to pitch in it and having a good enough first half to be in the running for it and all that. And the fact that pretty much our entire staff is going, it's really a really great recipe."

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler said he declined an invitation to be added to the National League All-Star roster, adding that he felt "disrespected" by being snubbed multiple times.

Wheeler did not make the initial NL All-Star roster, which was revealed last weekend, and also was not among several replacement additions announced Tuesday.

The veteran right-hander told reporters that he was invited Friday by Major League Baseball to join the NL roster as an injury replacement but refused, saying he was "not gonna be the fifth option.""They disrespected me, so I'm just not going to participate in that thing," Wheeler said Saturday, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.