Rays’ McClanahan given start for AL
LOS ANGELES — Despite his manager not remembering his work, Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan will start the All-Star Game for the American League, skipper Dusty Baker announced on Monday.
“To tell you the truth, I’ve never seen him pitch,” Baker said at the news conference announcing his decision. “But everyone I talked to, they say he’s nasty.”
The Astros and Rays have not played this season, but McClanahan threw 12⁄3 innings against the Astros during Game 6 of the 2020 ALCS — a game Baker managed. McClanahan surrendered five hits and three earned runs in a game Houston won 7-4.
McClanahan has since morphed into a monster. The lefthander leads all American League starters with a 1.71 ERA in 1102⁄3 innings.
Baker acknowledged he chose McClanahan after being informed Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani preferred not to appear as the starting pitcher. Ohtani will lead off for the American League as its DH.
The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw will start for the NL.
HR Derby to be used as the tiebreaker
Braves manager Brian Snitker, preparing to manage the National League All-Star squad and had an important question for Mets slugger Pete Alonso last week.
If the score was even after nine innings in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Snitker asked, would Alonso participate in the new tiebreaking Home Run Derby that would decide the winning team?
“I’ll be your guy,” Alonso told Snitker. “I think it’s fun. I think it’s going to be a great event if that does happen.”
Three players from each league would take three swings apiece to decide the final result.