Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler will not pitch in 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The American League's best starting pitcher this season will not participate in Tuesday's 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler informed the team that he won't pitch in Tuesday's midsummer classic, manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Sunday. The right-hander was a candidate to start for the AL, leading the league with a 2.05 ERA. He's made 20 starts this season, compiling a 9-5 record and 137 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings.
Soon after reports of Schlittler's decision, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Dylan Cease will start for the AL on Tuesday. Cease leads the league with 148 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings and has a 2.56 ERA to go with a 6-4 record. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod for the National League at his home venue of Citizens Bank Park.
Cease the Moment ⭐️
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 12, 2026
Dylan Cease will start the All-Star Game! #BlueJays50pic.twitter.com/ZW4uc3qWqr
Schlitter isn't opting out due to health concerns or fatigue, but he prefers not to ramp up to game-level effort on what would be his bullpen day between starts on Tuesday.
"He came in today, talked to me about it, made that decision," Boone said, via The Athletic's Brendan Kuty. "Just feels like on his recovery day to go back out there throwing 100 mph is something that I think he felt a little apprehensive about."
Schlittler, 25, pitched in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals, allowing 2 runs and 4 hits over 6 2/3 innings. He tied a season-high with four walks and finished with 99 pitches.
Despite declining the opportunity to pitch, Schlittler plans to attend the All-Star Game. Yankees teammates Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger were also named to the AL squad.
The second-year starter told the New York Daily News that he wants to be Rice's "Gatorade guy" for Monday's Home Run Derby. He will also have several family members, including his parents and siblings, in attendance at Citizens Bank Park.
Schlittler joins Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani as top players who have opted out of playing in the All-Star Game.
