Three Houston pitchers — Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and reliever Ryan Pressly — were added to the All-Star squad Sunday, giving the Astros six All-Stars, the most in the majors. Their teammates, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielders George Springer and Michael Brantley had already been voted in as starters.
Three Dodgers starters highlight the National League All-Stars added by manager Dave Roberts on Sunday — Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Walker Buehler. The Dodgers lead the National League in ERA, led by Ryu, who has a league-leading ERA of 1.83 and is second in wins with 9. The three join teammate Cody Bellinger, the MVP-candidate outfielder who was voted in as a starter.
It was the eighth All-Star selection for Kershaw, tied for most in the game with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who was voted in to his eighth earlier this week.
American League manager Alex Cora also added New York Yankees flamethrower Aroldis Chapman to the pitching squad, as well as starters Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox and Jake Odorizzi of the Minnesota Twins, who are in a tie for the American League lead in wins with 10; and Mike Minor of the Texas Rangers and Charlie Morton of the Tampa Bay Rays, who are 1-2 in the league in ERA. The Toronto Blue Jays‘ Marcus Stroman, the Detroit Tigers‘ Shane Greene, the Cleveland Indians‘ Brad Hand and the Baltimore Orioles‘ John Means round out the pitching squad.
Cora also added two players from his Red Sox team, outfielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez, as well as Indians fan favorite Francisco Lindor. The game will be played at Cleveland’s Progressive Field on July 9.
White Sox catcher James McCann and first baseman Jose Abreu were also named to the A.L. team, as well as Rangers slugger Joey Gallo, Matt Chapman of the Oakland Athletic, Tommy La Stella of the Angels, Daniel Vogelbach of the Seattle Mariners, Austin Meadows of the Rays, and Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals
In the National League, the Washington Nationals‘ Max Scherzer was named to his seventh All-Star team and the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ Zack Greinke to his sixth, but most of the rest of the pitching squad features players making their first All-Star appearance: Mike Soroka of the Atlanta Braves, Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins, Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds, Will Smith of the San Francisco Giants and Kirby Yates of the San Diego Padres. The Mets’ Jacob deGrom, making his third appearance, and the Milwaukee Brewers‘ Josh Hader, making his second, round out the National League pitchers.
Mets rookie Pete Alonso and Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Josh Bell — who will both compete in the Home Run Derby — were added to the N.L. squad, along with Alonso’s teammate, outfielder Jeff McNeil, also making his first appearance on the team.
Roberts went with three catchers, with the Brewers’ Yasmani Grandal and the Philadelphia Phillies‘ J.T. Realmuto joining starter Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs.
Two Colorado sluggers, outfielders Charlie Blackmon and shortstop Trevor Story were named to the N.L. squad along with teammate David Dahl. The Cubs Kris Bryant, the St, Louis Cardinals’ Paul DeJong, the Brewers Mike Moustakas and the Nationals Anthony Rendon round out the squad.