LOS ANGELES — Pinpointing Clayton Kershaw’s race to 3,000 strikeouts was easier to predict than, say, Sunday’s announcement, when the 18-year veteran was added to the National League All-Star team as a “Legends Pick.”
The surprise selection was made by commissioner Rob Manfred for Kershaw’s contributions to the game as a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 MVP during a Hall of Fame-worthy 18-year career.
“It’s something that I think that people in the game hold in high regard,” Roberts said of the ‘Legends Pick’. “It’s not charity, it’s something that’s earned over a long period of time, and what he’s done for the game, on the field, off the field.”
Kershaw and fellow starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto were named as reserves to the National League roster that will be managed by Dave Roberts. Already named as starters were Shohei Ohtani at designated hitter, Will Smith as catcher and Freddie Freeman at first base.
“Not to say that this is it for Clayton, but I do think that having this opportunity is still another special moment for him, his family,” Roberts said. “I think everyone in that room, on the National League side, will be excited to have him in the clubhouse.”
Atlanta will play host to the All-Star Game on July 15, reuniting Freeman with Braves fans after he spent his first 12 seasons with the club.
Outfielder Andy Pages was not selected despite worthy numbers that include a .293 batting average, .835 OPS, 17 home runs and 58 strikeouts.
Kershaw has made just nine starts this season since returning from offseason toe and knee surgeries. His comeback has been impressive at age 37 with a 4-0 record, a 3.43 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 44⅔ innings.
He reached a career highlight Wednesday with three strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox to give him 3,000 in his career. He was not only saluted by a sold-out crowd that night, he was lavished with praise again when he was announced as an All-Star for the 11th time during Sunday’s game against the Astros.
“We’ve been through it. I’ve been through it a lot, ups and downs here,” Kershaw said Wednesday about the appreciation he gets from Dodgers fans. “More downs than I care to admit, you know, but the fans tonight, it really meant a lot. And usually, I try not to acknowledge anything before the game, just because I try to lock it in a little bit. But it was too hard not to. It was overwhelming to feel that.”
Yamamoto will be headed to his first All-Star Game in his second major league season. He is 8-6 with a 2.51 ERA and has 109 strikeouts in 96⅔ innings. Heading into Sunday’s games, Yamamoto had the third-best ERA in the NL, behind the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes (2.03) and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler (2.27).
“You know, Yoshinobu has been great,” Roberts said before Sunday’s game. “I think that he’s shown the ability to beat good ballclubs, pitch big ball games, manage stress, limit damage, all that stuff. So, yeah, I think he’s back to kind of being who he is, and not surprising. I’m just really impressed with what he’s done in a year and a half of being here.”
Roberts, who will manage the NL team, is in charge of selecting the team’s starting pitcher, with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes the leading candidate.
FOOT FAULT
Right fielder Teoscar Hernandez was not on the starting lineup Sunday, one day after he fouled a ball off his left foot. Hernandez remained in the game Saturday, but the foot was sore a day later.
Esteury Ruiz received his first start for the Dodgers, playing right field and batting ninth.
Bothered by a groin injury, Hernandez is batting .257 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs this season. He has already said he will not defend his title in the Home Run Derby on July 14 to prioritize his health.
“I’ve tried to give him certain days to give a blow here, there,” Roberts said. “So I think, to be quite honest, I’m going to see how his foot feels. If we get some testing, that might kind of paint a better picture, but, as far as the question, if he’s fine to play, I’m not gonna just sit him when he says he feels good.”
Since the start of June, Hernandez is batting .193 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 29 games, with an OPS of .570 that is well below his season mark of .758.
TWO BLAKES
Both left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Blake Treinen will start minor league rehab assignments next week. The duo participated in live batting practice Saturday, with Snell throwing two innings and Treinen throwing one.
Snell has been out with shoulder inflammation since last pitching April 2. He was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA over his first nine innings in a Dodgers uniform. Treinen (forearm) last pitched April 13. He was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances.
“Not sure exactly what dates, but Blake Treinen will do a one-inning rehab stint with the OKC team and Blake Snell will do one (outing) with the Rancho (Cucamonga) team,” Roberts said.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw a bullpen session Sunday and is expected to be activated to the active roster during the road trip. Glasnow, who has been out with shoulder inflammation, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 8-6, 2.51) at Brewers (RHP Freddy Peralta, 9-4, 2.91 ERA), Monday, 4:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM