Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have much to cheer about nowadays as the team was eliminated in the National League Division Series for the second consecutive season.
However, there’s still news fans can take some solace in. Sporting News announced their 90th anniversary NL All-Star team earlier this week. The team was voted on by a panel of 25 NL executives prior to the start of the postseason.
According to Justin McGuire of Sporting News, there was a heated race for the starting pitcher award:
The closest race was at starting pitcher, where Zack Greinke of the Dodgers just edged out teammate Clayton Kershaw and Cubs ace Jake Arrieta.
This marks the second time Greinke has been part of a Sporting News All-Star team, as he was named to the American League team in 2009, which is the same season he won the AL Cy Young Award. Furthermore, this is the third consecutive year a Dodgers pitcher held the honor with Sporting News as Clayton Kershaw was their NL starting pitcher the previous two seasons.
It’s no surprise it was a tight race for the starting pitcher honor when Arrieta, Greinke and Kershaw also figure to be the finalists for the NL Cy Young Award. Greinke led the Majors with a 1.66 ERA, 225 ERA+ and 0.84 WHIP.
From May 11 to June 23, he had eight starts where he allowed two or less runs. However, the Dodgers struggled provide him with run support which led to six no-decisions and two losses. Greinke also finished fourth in the voting for Sporting News MLB Player of the Year.
Greinke was named a Gold Glove finalist on Thursday, along with Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
Joining the Dodgers right-hander to complete Sporting News NL All-Star team are: catcher Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants), first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona Diamondbacks), second baseman Dee Gordon (Miami Marlins), third baseman Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies), shortstop Brandon Crawford (Giants), outfielder Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals), outfielder Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates), outfielder A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) and closer Mark Melancon (Pirates).
Harper makes the first Sporting News NL All-Star team of his career as the leading NL vote-getter. Sporting News also announced Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant as the NL Rookie of the Year, and New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey as NL Comeback Player of the Year.
Dodgers rookie center fielder Joc Pederson came in fourth place with three votes. Bryant ran away with the honor, receiving 127 votes. Giants rookie Matt Duffy finished in second place with 22 votes.
Andrew Ethier came in fifth place for Comeback Player of the Year with three votes. Harvey’s 72 votes were enough to edge Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies.
