There is no doubt who the headliner is for the All-Star Game at Coors Field — Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The Japanese left-handed hitting slugger and right-handed pitcher will bat leadoff and start on the mound for the American League on Tuesday night.
“This is what the fans want to see,” said American League manager Kevin Cash. “And, personally, it’s what I want to see.”
Ohtani, through his interpreter, said, “I was not expecting to be chosen as a starting pitcher at all. This is such a huge honor.”
Washington’s Max Scherzer will start for the National League, becoming only the sixth pitcher in the history of the All-Star Game to make four starts.
“It’s really hard to put into words,” Scherzer said. “To get that honor again, and considering the quality of arms that are in the National League this year, I’ve very thankful and blessed to get this opportunity.”
Rockies’ ace German Marquez was considered for the starting job, NL manager Dave Roberts said.
“I absolutely did,” he said. “For Rockies fans here, it would have been a nice gesture and a nice honor. But ultimately deciding on Max, I felt that what he’s done this year, as far as performance, what he’s done for the game of baseball, was the reason. And his track record. Those are the reasons.”
And, with no All-Star game a year ago due to the pandemic, Scherzer lost a chance to start, Roberts said, which played a factor into his decision.
“I’m fine with that,” Marquez said. “I respect the manager’s decision and Scherzer deserves it.”
Rockies manager Bud Black understood Roberts’ decision.
“I talked to Dave a couple of days ago and he said he was going to start Max,” Black said. “He said, ‘Buddy, I thought about German.” I said, ‘Dave, it’s fine. Max is Max. We’ll get Max in there. Hopefully, German’s day is coming.”
Ohtani’s start at pitcher and designated hitter prompted Cash to petition the league for a rule tweak that allows Ohtani to stay in the lineup after he’s done pitching. MLB consented.
“This is what everyone wanted,” Cash said.
Marquez has been dominant over the last month, posting a 0.75 ERA over his past five starts. That included taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning two weeks ago against the Pirates in LoDo. The workhorse is tied for the MLB lead with 19 starts, and has 114 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings.
The right-hander just missed out on being the second Rockies pitcher to start the All-Star Game, joining Ubaldo Jimenez, who started the 2010 game in Anaheim. Jimenez threw two scoreless innings in that outing. Scherzer’s path to starting this year’s game was cleared by Mets ace Jacob deGrom, baseball’s best pitcher with a 1.08 ERA, declining to participate.
National League Lineup
- Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres, SS
- Max Muncy, Dodgers, DH
- Nolan Arenado, Cardinals, 3B
- Freddie Freeman, Braves, 1B
- Nick Castellanos, Reds, RF
- Jessie Winker, Reds, LF
- J.T. Realmuto, Phillies, C
- Bryan Reynolds, Pirates, CF
- Adam Frazier, Pirates, 2B
American League Lineup
- Shohei Ohtani, Angels, DH
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays, 1B
- Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox, SS
- Aaron Judge, Yankees, RF
- Rafael Devers, Red Sox, 3B
- Marcus Semien, Blue Jays, 2B
- Salvador Perez, Royals, C
- Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays, LF
- Cedric Mullins, Orioles, CF
