We still have a month until the Major League Baseball All-Star game, and, unfortunately, fans do not get to vote pitchers onto the roster. That does not mean, though, that we cannot voice our opinions and make our predictions of who will start for each league. As of June 13, the following pitchers for each league can make their cases to win the honor of starting the All-Star game on July 15.
American League
Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees: Tanaka has surpassed expectations, going 10-1 with a 2.02 ERA and 0.94 WHIP (all three stats lead the A.L.). Critics claimed he would come nowhere close to the 24-0, 1.27 ERA, and 0.94 WHIP that he posted for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan last year. He will not go undefeated, but he looks like a sure-fire 20-game winner at this point barring any unforeseen break-down or injury.
Mark Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays: Buehrle has always pitched very well, but this year, he is almost automatic. He is 10-3, 2.28 ERA, and 1.23 WHIP. He has spear-headed the Blue Jays’ charge in the A.L. East, and he could win 17-20 games if keeps up this pace.
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners: The former Cy Young winner is still dealing. “King Felix” is 8-1, 2.39 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP. He is also second in the American League in strikeouts with 106.
Other potential starters who should make the All-Star team include Oakland’s Scott Kazmir (7-2, 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP), Minnesota’s Phil Hughes (7-2, 3.17, 1.11), and Houston’s Dallas Keuchel (8-3, 2.38, 0.99).
National League
Tim Hudson, San Francisco Giants: Hudson is coming back this year from a horrific ankle injury that needed surgery last year. He has shown no ill effects. At 7-2, 1.81 ERA, and 0.97 WHIP, he is a very strong candidate to start the game. His ERA leads the National League as of June 13.
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals: Assuming no further problems with his elbow, Wainwright could make a case for Cy Young by the end of the year. He is 9-3, 2.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and his nine wins lead the league. He has already thrown 100 innings, and the league is hitting .199 off him.
Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds: His 6-5 record does not look All-Star-like, but his 1.85 ERA and MLB-leading 0.77 WHIP and .160 BAA all make up for that. He cannot help low run support. Cueto leads the N.L. in strikeouts and has led the league in ERA for much of the season as well (second right now).
Other candidates to at least make the rotation include a whole slew of starters. Jeff Samardzija (2-6, 2.77, 1.18) could be the Cubs’ lone representative. Madison Bumgarner (8-4, 2.67, 1.17), Julio Teheran (6-4, 2.41, 0.97), Josh Beckett (4-3, 2.35, 1.06), and more could make for a very fun debate on this year’s All-Star snubs.
Predictions
Although much can still happen in the final weeks leading up to the official selections, here are my predictions for the two All-Star game starters at this point.
A.L.: I have a tantalizing suspicion that Masahiro Tanaka will get the nod for the American League for both his outstanding performance in an injury-riddle rotation and for his star power. A Tanaka start will draw International attention, especially from Japan’s Nippan fans and media.
N.L.: Adam Wainwright will likely start for the National League assuming that his elbow is healthy enough. Should he need to use the All-Star break as a chance to rest, then look for Cueto to get the ball.
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