The Los Angeles Dodgers again have several representatives at the MLB All-Star Game, headlined by Kenley Jansen and Matt Kemp. They’re joined by Dave Roberts, who is managing the National League All-Star team, along with support from the Dodgers coaching staff.
For Jansen, it’s a third career All-Star Game selection, which is a streak that began in 2016. Considering his slow start to the season, Jansen called this year’s honor ‘more special’ compared to his previous two.
Jansen reached the All-Star break tied with Greg Holland of the Colorado Rockies for the most saves in the NL and third-most overall.
Although Roberts previously indicated he would avoid using his closer in the Midsummer Classic, Jansen is hoping for a different development.
According to Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group, Jansen would relish an opportunity to close out a win for the NL at Nationals Park:
“It would mean a lot (to close the game), to be honest,” Jansen said. “If I had a shot to close the game, it would be awesome.”
Jansen has yet to so much come up on the winning side in his two previous All-Star Games. He entered in the eighth inning in 2016, when the NL was trailing, and struck out the only batter faced.
Jansen was then called on in the ninth inning of a tie game last year and allowed a hit but otherwise struck out the side.
Considering the Dodgers don’t resume play until Friday, Jansen may be able to convince Roberts to at least allow for him to face one or two batters. It will be up to the NL All-Stars to determine whether or not that’s with a chance to wrap up a win.
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