Although the Los Angeles Dodgers only had Cody Bellinger voted in as a starter for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, he will be joined at Progressive Field by Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw Hyun-Jin Ryu
They were named to the National League roster as respective reserves and pitchers. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will lead the NL team in the Midsummer Classic for a second consecutive year.
For Buehler, it’s a first career All-Star Game selection in what’s just his second full season with the Dodgers. Buehler, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season, has settled into a nice rhythm since a bit of a rocky start to the season.
That largely was a byproduct of an abridged Spring Training, which essentially spilled into the the first six weeks of the season.
Kershaw earned an All-Star Game selection for an eighth time in the past nine years. His streak of seven in a row was snapped last season due to injuries limiting him to just four combined starts in May and June. Injury also prevented Kershaw from pitching in the 2017 exhibition.
He’s never started in the All-Star Game, and doesn’t figure to check off that accomplishment this year.
While a formal announcement has not been made, Ryu easily is the leader of the clubhouse to start for the NL at Progressive Field. The 32-year-old earned his first All-Star Game selection behind a superb first half of the season that’s seen him lead the Majors in several statistics.
Despite owning the best record in baseball, the Dodgers curiously did not have a position player named among the reserves. Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Alex Verdugo figured to be in the conversation.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Josh Bell and New York Mets’ Pete Alonso, Mets’ Jeff McNeil, Milwaukee Brewers’ Mike Moustakas, Washington Nationals’ Anthony Rendon and Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant were among those voted in by players and the Commissioner’s office.
Roberts previously voiced some surprise over the Dodgers only having one elected starter despite boasting the best record in baseball. Roberts added he believed his club would have ‘several’ players named to the All-Star Game once reserves and pitchers were announced.
Roberts specifically named Muncy and Turner as prime candidates to reach the 90th Midsummer Classic.
