MLB All-Star Game: Who Should Start for the American League?
By Matt Weyrich
Danny Salazar
Coming into this season, if anyone were to guess which member of the Indians’ starting rotation was going to be representing Cleveland at the All-Star Game, most probably would have picked 2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. While Kluber was named as the injury replacement for Estrada Thursday morning, Danny Salazar has emerged as the top arm on this first place club’s staff.
For anyone who’s been watching this team closely over the past two and a half seasons, this comes as no surprise. Salazar (10-3, 2.36 ERA) has seen his earned run average drop almost two full runs since 2014, and he is well on his way to setting a new career high in strikeouts.
The 26-year old right-handed currently leads the AL with an ERA+ of 197, further cementing his place among the game’s elite. While his walks per nine innings is at a career-high 4.0, Salazar’s ability to keep the ball in the yard (0.7 HR/9) has limited the damage.
Prediction: While Salazar has been one of the best run preventers in the game, Ned Yost has a flair for the dramatic. If he opts not to give the ball to his division rival, Yost may decide to go with…
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