LOS ANGELES — Dylan Cease walked off the mound Sunday in possession of the major league strikeout lead, with 150, and well on his way to his ninth win. Unfortunately, he was headed from Minneapolis to anywhere but Dodger Stadium, site of Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
Snubbed! Rarely does the word fit the occasion better. Cease — not shortstop Tim Anderson or closer Liam Hendriks — has been the White Sox’ MVP, standing tall when the team has desperately needed him. Look no further than his performances in his last two starts of the first half.
Instead, we’ll see All-Star starting pitchers such as Nestor Cortes from the Yankees and Paul Blackburn from the A’s, who aren’t — unlike Cease — in the thick of contention for a Cy Young award.