MLB: Which Pitchers Should Start in the All-Star Game?
National League: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
When it really comes down to it, only two pitchers have a shot at starting for the National League at this point in the season. Jake Arrieta, the ace of arguably the best team in baseball, and Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner and always consistent ace of the Dodgers.
While Arrieta and the Cubs’ season has proven to be magical thus far, starting the right-hander over Kershaw does not make sense.
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Let’s start with the basics. Kershaw currently boasts an MLB-leading 1.46 ERA. Arrieta is right behind him at 1.80. In WHIP? Kershaw has a 0.65 WHIP, again best in all of baseball. Arrieta sits at fourth in the National League with 0.96.
In strikeouts, Kershaw sits at second, just one behind Jose Fernandez. Arrieta sits six spots behind Kershaw with 22 fewer strikeouts (109 to 87). Here’s where things break loose. Kershaw has an astounding 18.17 K/BB ratio, only surrendering six walks all year. That leads the majors and is far better than his previous career high of 7.71 K/BB. Arrieta has a solid 3.35 K/BB ratio, but is nowhere near Kershaw.
Both pitchers have won their fair share of games as well, with Arrieta (9-1) beating out Kershaw (8-1) by one. But that’s about it when it comes to what Arrieta has over Kershaw at this point in the season.
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The reigning Cy Young Award winner has put together a dominant season – and if he were in the American League, there is no doubt he’d be the obvious start there. But Arrieta comes up just short, as Kershaw has been almost perfect through 12 starts. The five-time All-Star is deserving of the starting gig for the National League, which, surprisingly, would be his first time ever.