Weeks of speculation and debate gave way to an official decision this week with Clayton Kershaw getting the nod for his first career All-Star Game start.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have six All-Stars this season; half of which will be on the field for first pitch. Joining Kershaw in starting for the National League are Mookie Betts and Trea Turner, both of whom were voted in by fans.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker gave Kershaw the nod over Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara, and to a lesser extent, Tony Gonsolin as well.
“First of all, I want to say thank you to Snit for letting me start this thing,” Kershaw said during the All-Star Game press conference he was publicly revealed to be the starter.
“It’s hard because obviously Sandy Alcántara, Tony Gonsolin, Max Fried, all these guys have better numbers than I do and they should be starting this game, and I get that.
“But all that to say, I am just so excited I get to do it here at Dodger Stadium. I really didn’t think anything of it at the time.”
Over recent weeks, Kershaw continued to deflect questions about possibly starting the 2022 All-Star Game. He admitted the scenario was one that carried special meaning, but maintained others deserved the nod ahead of him.
Kershaw is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 12 starts this season.
“I was like, ‘Well, yeah, it would be fun to do it or whatever,’ but now that it’s finally here and I get to start that game, it just means a lot,” he said Monday. “And it means a lot to my family and we’re excited.
“Charley is excited, my kiddos are excited, and so we’re going to have a good time and hopefully I don’t screw it up too bad.”
Kershaw is becoming the 13th pitcher to start an All-Star Game in his home ballpark, and first since Max Scherzer did so for the Washington Nationals in 2018.
Kershaw has thrown six innings over six All-Star Game appearances and allowed three runs. He had a spotless All-Star Game ERA until giving up two runs during his inning of work in 2015.
Clayton Kershaw vs. Shohei Ohtani
Awaiting the Dodgers’ franchise icon is Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who is starting as the designated hitter and batting in the leadoff spot for Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker.
Ohtani is a career 0-for-8 with three strikeouts against Kershaw. Two of those strikeouts came in their meeting last week, and one resulted in Ohtani dropping to his knee after swinging through a curveball.
“Shohei is pretty incredible. I just tried to pitch, let alone try to hit every once in a while back in the day,” Kershaw said, before being unable to explain his success in their head-to-head matchups.
“I don’t know, honestly. I don’t know how I get him out,” he said. “I guess I’ll try to get him out again and see what happens.”
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