(Arlington) Toronto Blue Jays power hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will bat seventh in the American League roster Tuesday night in the Major League All-Star Game.
American League manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians will start in left field, followed by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto, center fielder Aaron Judge, Houston Astros first-choice hitter Yordan Alvarez, Guardians shortstop Jose Ramirez, Guerrero, Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien.
Ketel Marte will bat first and play second base for the Nationals, followed by Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Shohei Ohtani, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, teammate first baseman Bryce Harper, Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras, teammate right fielder Christian Yelich, Phillies third baseman Alex Bohm, Dodgers center fielder Teoscar Hernández and San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar.
Orioles ace Corbin Burnes will get the start for the AFC, and he’ll face Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes.
Burnes, a 29-year-old right-hander, is 9-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his first season with the Orioles, who acquired him from the Brewers just before spring camp opened. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner is making his fourth straight All-Star appearance. He will become the fifth Orioles pitcher to start in an All-Star game, and the first since Steve Stone in 1980.
Skenes, who began his major league career on May 11, is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 11 starts. He has also struck out 89 batters and walked 13 in 66 1/3 innings of work so far.
Never before has a player been selected to the All-Star Game after making only 11 career starts. Skenes, who is 21, will nevertheless become the fifth rookie after Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995) to start in this summer classic.
National team manager Torey Lovullo confirmed his decision to send Skenes to the mound last week.