For the second straight year, Max Scherzer and Chris Sale will start the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.
This is the first time since 1940 that both starters have faced off against each other in back-to-back years.
Scherzer is starting for the third time in his career, and is the first reigning Cy Young winner to start an All-Star game in his home park. Scherzer is 12-5 with 182 strikeouts, a 2.41 ERA, and a 0.89 WHIP over 134.2 innings.
Sale is the first pitcher to make three consecutive ASG starts since Robin Roberts. He is 10-4 with 188 strikeouts, a 2.23 ERA, and a 0.89 WHIP over 129 innings.
Despite making a very strong case for the start, NL manager Dave Roberts announced Mets RHP Jacob deGrom will pitch second for the NL, following up Scherzer.
Amongst all MLB starters, Jacob deGrom’s first half ranks:
4.4 fWAR – 3rd, 6.0, bWAR – 1st, 1.68 ERA – 1st, 2.32 FIP – 3rd, 0.97 WHIP – 5th, 10.87 K/9 – 10th, 0.51 HR/9 – 3rd, 24.5% K/BB, – 6th 4.07 WPA – 1st.
The National League will lineup as follows: Javier Baez 2B, Nolan Arenado 3B, Paul Goldschmidt 1B, Freddie Freeman 1B, Matt Kemp LF, Bryce Harper CF, Nick Markakis RF, Brandon Crawford SS, Willson Contreras C, Max Scherzer P.
