David Ortiz gets nod as cleanup hitter for All-Star Game
And Chris Sale takes the starting job over Steven Wright
The average age of the American League lineup is 26.4 years old, but it will be 40 year-old David Ortiz stepping to the plate in the cleanup spot for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.
The 10-time All-Star Ortiz has certainly earned the role, pacing the MLB with 34 doubles, and his .332 batting average is second only to the Astros’ Jose Altuve, while his .426 OBP and .682 SLG are both leading the league.
Joining Ortiz in the American League lineup as Red Sox representatives are Xander Bogaerts, batting fifth, Mookie Betts, batting seventh, and Jackie Bradley Jr., batting ninth. Knuckleballer Steven Wright’s dominance for the Red Sox sparked whispers of the possibility that he would start the All-Star Game, but despite his league-leading 2.68 ERA, American League manager Ned Yost elected to hand the ball to Chris Sale of the White Sox (14-3, 3.38 ERA).
The full lineup for the American League will be: Altuve, 2B; Mike Trout, CF; Manny Machado, 3B; Ortiz, DH; Bogaerts, SS; Eric Hosmer, 1B; Betts, RF; Salvador Perez, C; and Bradley, LF. That Yost declined to use Bogaerts, Betts, or Bradley’s speed and on-base skills at the top of the order speaks more to the caliber of their teammates than their own shortcomings.
Whenever Wright does take the mound, he will be pitching to an equally stout National League lineup: Ben Zobrist, 2B; Bryce Harper, RF; Kris Bryant, LF; Wil Myers, DH; Buster Posey, C; Anthony Rizzo, 1B; Marcell Ozuna, CF; Carlos Gonzalez, LF; Addison Russell, SS.
National League manager Terry Collins selected the Giants’ Johnny Cueto and his 2.47 ERA as his starter.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com