LOS ANGELES ― For a few days later this month, Dodger players will have to cede their locker stalls and parking spaces to a group of strangers for the All-Star Game ― except for four lucky souls.
Pitchers Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw will join Trea Turner and Mookie Betts, who were elected starters in fan voting, at the July 19 game at Dodger Stadium.
Gonsolin and Kershaw were the only Dodgers named to the National League All-Star team Sunday. Pitchers and reserve players were selected via a vote of players, managers and coaches, and by Major League Baseball. MLB’s selections ensured that each of the 30 teams had at least one representative.
More players will be named to the team as injury replacements in the week to come.
Gonsolin, who leads the league in won-loss record (11-0) and earned-run average (1.62), is a strong candidate to start for the National League. The first-time All-Star began the season as the Dodgers’ fifth starter. He has already established single-season career highs in games started and innings pitched.
Brian Snitker, who will manage the National League team after guiding the Atlanta Braves to last year’s World Series, will choose the starting pitcher.
Kershaw, 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 11 starts, has appeared in six All-Star games but never started. He would be the sentimental choice to start in a field of candidates that ― for now ― does not include Dodger pitchers Julio Urías or Tyler Anderson.
Kershaw hasn’t pitched enough innings to qualify for an ERA title by virtue of an injury to the SI joint in his lower back. He was chosen by MLB, while Gonsolin was chosen an All-Star by the player ballot.
Urías, 7-6 with a 3.01 ERA, began the day Sunday ranked among the top 10 in the National League in several statistical categories: wins, ERA, adjusted ERA+, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk ratio. Neither he nor Anderson, 9-1 with a 3.15 ERA, has made an All-Star team before.
Atlanta’s Max Fried, San Diego’s Joe Musgrove, Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo, and Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes were the other starting pitchers chosen Sunday. Pittsburgh’s David Bednar, New York’s Edwin Diaz, Milwaukee’s Josh Hader, St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley and Arizona’s Joe Mantiply made the team as relievers
An injury could also make an All-Star of Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman or catcher Will Smith, who were left off the initial roster despite a strong start to the 2022 season.
Smith was snubbed in favor of catchers William Contreras and Travis d’Arnaud. Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was elected a starter by fans.
Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso were chosen ahead of Freeman.
The other position players chosen Sunday: St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado, New York’s Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte, Atlanta’s Dansby Swanson, Chicago’s Ian Happ, Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Washington’s Juan Soto. Former Dodger, Angel and current Cardinal Albert Pujols made the NL roster as a special selection by the Commissioner’s office.
INJURY UPDATES
Injured pitchers Blake Treinen and Andrew Heaney will accompany the Dodgers on their forthcoming road trip to St. Louis.
Manager Dave Roberts said Heaney, who has made only three starts this season because of shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to throw a simulated game against live hitters Tuesday.
“If that goes well, the expectation is he’ll go out on rehab and hopefully throw four innings somewhere,” Roberts said.
That timetable would allow Heaney to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation immediately after the All-Star break.
Infielder/DH Edwin Rios (hamstring) and reliever Tommy Kahnle (right forearm inflammation) are shifting their rehabilitation to the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona. Chris Taylor, shut down from baseball activities with a fractured bone in his foot, will remain in Los Angeles.
ALSO
The Dodgers will start right-hander Mitch White, right-hander Tony Gonsolin and left-hander Tyler Anderson against the Cardinals in that order, keeping their five-man rotation in turn following Monday’s off-day. St. Louis will counter with left-hander Matt Liberatore, right-hander Adam Wainwright and right-hander Dakota Hudson.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers have the day off Monday.
More to come on this story.
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