Zack Greinke, Dallas Keuchel chosen as All-Star Game starters
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke, who didn't allow a run over his final 35 2/3 innings heading into the All-Star break, will look to extend his scoreless-innings streak Tuesday when he starts for the National League in the 86th Midsummer Classic.
Though some expected NL manager Bruce Bochy to start left-hander Madison Bumgarner, his staff ace in San Francisco, the three-time World Series champion couldn't withhold the honor from Greinke. A three-time All-Star, Greinke's 1.39 ERA heading into the break represents the best first-half mark since the pitcher's mound was lowered following the 1968 campaign.
"Had some great starters that were candidates, but these numbers he's putting up are really, really unbelievable," Bochy told reporters. "Really, really amazing what Zack has been doing, so that's why he's our starting pitcher tomorrow."
Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros, meanwhile, will start for the American League after fashioning a 2.23 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP over 19 starts in the first half. Keuchel, an All-Star for the first time in his career, will become the first left-hander to start for the AL since David Price took the mound at Angel Stadium back in 2010.
"It was a tough decision, but what a phenomenal year that he's having," AL manager Ned Yost told reporters.
Though he doesn't have the gaudiest strikeout numbers, the 27-year-old has completed at least six innings in all 19 of his starts this season while allowing just seven home runs in 137 1/3 innings (0.5 per nine). Keuchel is also tied for the AL lead with two shutouts in 2015, while his 64.1-percent ground-ball rate trails only Brett Anderson for the MLB lead.
"I'm extremely excited for the opportunity," Keuchel said.