2013 MLB All-Star Game: The National League’s Biggest Roster Snubs

Mat Latos, Cincinnati Reds

Jun 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Mat Latos is quietly mustering a solid season for the Reds, but with a teeming list of quality starters in the NL, he was overlooked. That’s not such a bad thing.

Latos has cemented himself as the Reds’ ace with Johnny Cueto making multiple trips to the DL. The 25-year-old has a 3.18 ERA, 2.97 FIP (eighth-best in the NL) and 9.31 K/9 (fourth-best). Put it all together and you have the sixth-best WAR (2.8) in the NL. Not bad at all.

The NL starting staff, as I mentioned, is crawling with talent. There’s Matt Harvey, Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright. Moreover, there’s Cliff Lee, Madison Bumgarner and Jordan Zimmermann.

The not so obvious picks: Patrick Corbin, Travis Wood, Jeff Locke and Jose Fernandez.

Each team has to have an All-Star, so that’s where Wood and Fernandez (he’s deserving nonetheless) fit in. The Pirates have four All-Stars and the Diamondbacks have one. So they’re covered.

With that said, Latos has a better WAR, K/9 rate and FIP than Locke and Corbin. Corbin does has a sparkly 10-1 record and 2.40 ERA–not that win-loss records matter. And Locke does have the second-best ERA in the NL.

Still, Latos has a case–a strong one, may I add.