LOS ANGELES — Will Smith and Freddie Freeman followed Shohei Ohtani’s lead into the National League’s starting lineup for the All-Star Game later this month at Atlanta.
In Phase 2 of the voting process, Smith won the fan vote to start for the NL at catcher and Freeman did the same at first base. They edged Carson Kelly of the Chicago Cubs and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, respectively.
Shohei Ohtani already was named the starter at designated hitter as the highest overall vote getter in the NL through Phase 1 of the voting process.
The fan vote gives the Dodgers three All-Star Game starters for the third time in the past four seasons. The Detroit Tigers are the only other team with three starters this season.
“Hopefully we get a couple more,” Manager Dave Roberts said, in reference to this weekend’s announcement of All-Star Game reserves and pitchers. “I think they’ve all had great first halves and it’s great to know three guys are starting. So hopefully we get a couple, three more.”
Freeman, Mookie Betts (outfield) and J.D. Martinez (designated hitter) were named NL All-Star game starters in 2023. Clayton Kershaw (starting pitcher) Trea Turner (shortstop) and Betts were All-Star starters in 2022.
The Dodgers had seven players advance to Phase 2 of the voting, but five did not get starting nods for the July 15 game.
Tommy Edman was the leading vote getter at second base in Phase 1, but was passed by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte during Phase 2. Mookie Betts finished second at shortstop to the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor and Max Muncy was the runner-up at third base to the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado.
Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages advanced to the top six in the outfield voting, but fans elected Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs duo of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker as the NL outfield.
Hernandez won the Home Run Derby during last season’s All-Star Game festivities but elected to bypass the event this year.
Smith earned his first All-Star Game starting nod in his third consecutive trip to the contest. He entered Wednesday’s game leading the NL with a .320 batting average and .418 on-base percentage. He had 10 home runs with 43 RBIs.
Freeman will be making his ninth consecutive appearance and fourth straight as a member of the Dodgers. Freeman entered Wednesday batting .308 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Ohtani is making his fifth consecutive All-Star Game appearance and second with the Dodgers. He went into Wednesday leading the NL with 30 home runs and a 1.024 OPS, while posting a .287 batting average with 55 RBIs.
DOUBLE DOSE
The Dodgers had left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) and right-hander Blake Treinen (forearm) throw one-inning live batting practice sessions before Wednesday’s game.
Snell threw 12 pitches and had two strikeouts against minor league hitters. Treinen threw 17 pitches and had three strikeouts, with Hyeseong Kim batting twice against him.
“Really good; they’ll go again in a couple of days in another live session,” Roberts said. “But both guys looked really good in one inning.”
Snell has made just two starts in a Dodgers uniform, going 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in nine innings. Treinen has come out of the bullpen just eight times this season, going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
OBSERVATION DAY
Hernandez was not in the starting lineup against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, as Andy Pages moved to right field and Kim got the start in center. It was Kim’s 10th start in center with 13 at second base and three at shortstop.
It was just the second time Hernandez was out of the starting lineup since June 8.
“I’m just giving him a day,” Roberts said. “We’re in the middle of nine in a row. Just get (Kim) in there, give Teoscar the day and he will be in there the next seven.”
Hernandez was batting .263 with a .779 OPS, 14 home runs and 54 RBIs in 70 games this season. He went 0 for 10 with a walk in the recently completed three-game series at Kansas City before he delivered two hits with an RBI and a run scored in a 6-1 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday night.
Kim entered Wednesday batting .369 with a .935 OPS, two home runs and 12 RBIs, with seven stolen bases in 38 total games.
UP NEXT
White Sox (RHP Aaron Civale, 1-4, 4.74 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Dustin May, 4-5, 4.68 ERA), Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM