On July 13, 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced the starting lineups and starting pitchers for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at a press conference.
Roberts named Christopher Sanchez to start on the mound for the National League, marking Sanchez's second All-Star appearance. "Christopher Sanchez is making his second all-star appearance, and I get the pleasure of naming him the National League All-Star," Roberts said during the press conference. Sanchez, who credited his development to guidance from Pedro Martinez and other Dominican pitchers, dedicated his All-Star performance to his father in the Dominican Republic who could not attend the game. Roberts, who noted this is his fourth time managing the All-Star Game, also acknowledged that he and the Dodgers — who eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies from the 2025 postseason — may not receive a warm reception from the Philadelphia crowd.
Schneider named Dylan Cease as the American League's starting pitcher, making Dylan Cease the first Toronto Blue Jays starter in the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009. Schneider stated his selection was based on Dylan Cease's overall body of work: "leading the league in strikeouts, up there in innings pitched, quality starts, WAR — there was a lot of categories that he was either at the top or second in." Dylan Cease acknowledged he "was definitely upset in 2022" when he did not make the All-Star team, adding, "I feel like getting to start my first one maybe made up for it." Schneider also announced that Junior Caminero will bat fourth and play third base for the AL All-Stars, while Roberts noted that Drake Baldwin, making his first All-Star appearance from the Atlanta Braves, will bat ninth as catcher for the NL.
Both managers offered positive assessments of the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. Roberts noted, "I do think that it's made the umpiring even better, because they've had to even bear down even more," while acknowledging that borderline calls remain difficult. Roberts also suggested that Shohei Ohtani would make an ideal co-host for MLB Awards, saying he would love for Ohtani to participate and that Ohtani "is wittier than people think."
A notable moment at the press conference came when Schneider's nine-year-old son, Gunnar, stepped to the podium to ask both managers their favorite part of the 2025 season, prompting Schneider to reflect on winning the American League pennant and sharing the World Series run with his family. Roberts expressed his broader philosophy on the All-Star Game, stating, "I've always believed that it's an honor, it's a huge honor to be named an All-Star, to be able to participate in this game," and encouraged players to participate despite trends toward rest and injury-related absences.