(LA) Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will start the game on the mound for the National League as Dodger Stadium hosts the All-Star Game for the first time since 1980.
Posted yesterday at 3:18 p.m.
In the American, Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays was chosen.
Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani will be the American’s first hitter as the designated hitter. Last year, he was the starting pitcher in addition to batting first as the designated hitter in the American’s 5-2 win at Denver.
The 34-year-old Kershaw, a three-time Cy-Young winner, is 7-2 with a 2.14 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. Two years ago, he helped the Dodgers win their first World Series since 1988.
Whoever edged Don Sutton in April for the most strikeouts in franchise history will become the third Dodger to start the game on the mound in the past seven Summer Classics, following Zack Greinke in 2015 and Hyun Jin Ryu in 2019. It will become the 13e leaving to start the all-star game in his stadium, the first since his ex-teammate Max Scherzer in Washington, in 2018.
In this left-handed duel, McClanahan will become the second Rays pitcher used as a starter in the All-Star Game. David Price was drafted out of Anaheim in 2010. McClanahan, who is playing the game for the first time, is 10-3 with a 1.71 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings.
Ohtani will be followed in the offensive role of New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Yankees left fielder Giancarlo Stanton, Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez, and Jays wide receiver Alejandro Kirk.
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker is in charge.
On the National side, the manager of the Atlanta Braves will send his right fielder Ronald Acuna son, the center fielder of the Dodgers Mookie Betts, the third baseman of the San Diego Padres Manny Machado, the first baseman of the Cardinals of St. Louis Paul Goldschmidt, Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner, Chicago Cubs wide receiver Willson Contreras, Braves designated hitter William Contrera, San Francisco Giants left fielder Joc Pederson and Chicago Cubs second baseman Put on Jeff McNeil.
Willson and William Contreras are the first pair of brothers to break into the same All-Star roster since Aaron and Bret Boone in 2003. They will become the fifth pair of brothers to end up on the starting lineup for the All-Star Game, following Mort and Walker Cooper in 1942 and 1943, Dixie and Harry Walker in 1947, Joe and Dom DiMaggio in 1949, and Roberto and Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1992.