Monday, July 14, 2014

Wainwright edges out Kershaw as All-Star starter

About the only remaining question for tomorrow's All-Star Game was who NL manager Mike Matheny would choose to start the game - Adam Wainwright or Clayton Kershaw?

Well, he just chose.  And he stayed with familiarity in Wainwright.

So Wainwright will toe the rubber in the first inning against the American League, as "King" Felix Hernandez will go against the NL. 

I have to admit I was disappointed, but certainly not surprised.  Buster Olney tweeted out this morning that all signs were pointing to Wainwright getting the honor.  Plus you throw in the fact that Matheny just happens to manage him, and it's understandable.

For fun, let's take a look at just how close of a race this has been in the first half:

Kershaw: 14 GS, 96 1/3 IP, 11-2, 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 126 K, 3 CB, 1 SHO
Wainwright: 19 GS, 138 IP, 12-3, 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 115 K, 3 CG, 2 SHO

What can we take away from all of that?  Both are really, REALLY good.  That's it.

Seriously, if you're a Dodger fan like me, you want to see your boy Kershaw get the honor of starting.  But since he's not, you certainly can't complain about it being Wainwright instead.  He's a guy who's won a world championship as a closer, and finished in the top three in the Cy Young voting three times.  I'd say he's more than proved his worth.

And like it not, the few starts Kershaw had to miss when he was on the DL probably cost him.  Say for instance he never missed a start and still put up those sick numbers?  Then we'd all have a big reason to complain.

Look for Kershaw to get the ball anywhere between innings 2-4, I would think.  He'll still play a big role in the game at least.

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