Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker announced Clayton Kershaw will start the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw received the nod over fellow National League All-Stars Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Tony Gonsolin. Alcántara had a historic first half and Gonsolin (11-0) is the only remaining qualified starter who is undefeated this season.
The All-Star Game start is Kershaw’s first of his career. Although he trailed other candidates in innings pitched because of a lower back injury, Kershaw has put together a strong season as well.
He was perfect through seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels and allowed just one hit in the outing to close out the first half. Kershaw is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 12 starts this season.
As the possibility of starting the All-Star Game began to gain traction, Kershaw continued to deflect.
“At the end of the day, you look at everybody’s resumes and stats for this season, there’s a lot of guys that are more deserving than me to start that game,” he said on Friday. “But if it did happen, it would be a huge honor and I would be excited to do it.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Freddie Freeman were among those who publicly campaigned for Kershaw to start the All-Star Game. Though, Roberts acknowledged he didn’t receive much pressure from other skippers when serving as a manager in the Midsummer Classic.
History of Clayton Kershaw in All-Star Game stats
Kershaw has earned nine career All-Star selections, and pitched in six of the previous eight.
He’s thrown a combined six innings in those appearances and allowed three runs. Kershaw had a spotless All-Star Game ERA until giving up two runs during his inning of work in 2015.
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