Pitchers shut out of All-Star Game
WASHINGTON >> The Dodgers will have a player in the starting lineup at the AllStar Game after all.
Max Muncy was one of three Dodgers — along with surprise choices Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts — named Sunday as reserves on the National League team for the game July 13 at Coors Field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will manage the NL team, said he would start Muncy at DH and bat him second in the lineup.
Surprisingly, though, no members of the pitching staff with the lowest ERA in MLB (3.16 through Saturday) were named to the All-Star pitching staff. Both Walker Buehler (top 10 in the NL in wins, ERA and WHIP) and Kenley Jansen (tied for second in the league with 21 saves and sporting a 1.35 ERA) seemed to be obvious choices and could be added later as players drop out.
Roberts agreed that “it does” seem wrong that no Dodgers pitcher was named to the team. He also put in a plug for third baseman Justin Turner.
“I’m trying not to get too emotional yet,” he said. “I think with what Clayton’s
done he deserves it. I think that with what Walker has done he deserves it. And with what Kenley has done, I don’t think there’s a better closer in the game, and he deserves it.”
Tied for fifth in the NL in home runs and fifth in the league in OPS, Muncy now becomes a candidate to fill out the field in the Home Run Derby as well. Muncy competed in the Derby at the 2018 All-Star Game despite not being on the AllStar team. He was on the All-Star team in 2019.
“That’d be pretty incredible. That’d be really, really exciting news,” Muncy said of Roberts potentially starting him at DH. “I feel like I’ve done all I can to get my name out there and,show the kind of player that I am.”
Taylor’s selection is a recognition of the increased importance of multi-position players in baseball in recent seasons. He has started at six positions for the Dodgers, becoming more valuable with injuries to Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager.
“I was just excited and humbled — and a little surprised as well. I didn’t know that was coming,” said Taylor who can add the AllStar selection to his resume when he becomes a free agent this winter.
“It’s a dream come true. Ever since you were a little kid playing in the backyard, you dream of being a big-league All-Star and you watch that All-Star Game every year and hope to be there someday.”
Roberts has been Taylor’s campaign manager, saying in June that he felt Taylor was “an absolute All-Star.”
“No one in baseball can do what he does,” Roberts said. “The versatility and ability to hit left and right and also play above-average defense all over the diamond — I think that in itself makes him an All-Star player.
“When you try to bucket him as a center fielder, second baseman, shortstop or left fielder, you’re actually doing him a disservice. The All-Stars are to showcase the best players in each league for that particular year, and he is one of the best players in the National League, hands down. It’s a pretty easy sell.”
Betts has been one of the best players in baseball over the past six seasons and made the AllStar team four times in the American League. But his fifth All-Star selection (first in the National League — last year’s game was cancelled) comes during a season that does not live up to those standards.
Betts is batting .247 which would be a careerlow with an OPS that is his lowest since 2017 (.810).
He was voted in by the players.
“Mookie — he’s a perennial All-Star,” Roberts said. “To get voted in by his peers is something that speaks to what they think of the type of player he is.”
Tropical storm Elsa
Tropical Storm Elsa brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and is now expected to swing by Florida in the next few days. A tropical storm watch is in effect for parts of southern Florida as the Dodgers head to Miami for a four-game series beginning Monday.
“We have heard about it,” Roberts said. “We’re just trying to get there and be safe. We’re bringing in some guys, potentially, as far as kind of reserves for our guys in the ‘pen. I can’t name any names yet but to taxi. But I don’t know. We’re just hoping and praying. We’re all safe.”
Left-hander Scott Alexander is expected to join the team in Miami and come off the Injured List. Alexander has been out since May 1 with a shoulder injury.
Roster moves
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol was returned to Triple-A Oklahoma City with right-handed Edwin Uceta promoted to add length in the bullpen for Sunday. Graterol pitched twice during the series in Washington, allowing an unearned run in 2 2/3 innings.