Who are the starting pitchers for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game?
The lineups are now in and the matchups are known, so we take a look at the starting pitchers and bullpens for the 2023 MLB All Star Game.
With the lineups chosen by fan vote, and of course moderated by injury and availability, for the MLB All Star Game, it is the managers who choose the pitchers. Regular season rotational issues, general health, and of course a good dollop of competitiveness determine who gets that job as well. But now Dusty Baker and Rob Thomsen have made their selections for the starting jobs.
Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees will start for the American League while the National League will go to work behind Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The last time the All Star Game had a Yankee starter face off with a D-Back starter was in the 2001 All Star Game. That too was contested in Seattle and saw Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens get the nod.
Gallen is appearing in his first All Star Game and is 11 and 3 with a 3.04 ERA on 118.1 innings pitched. He will go up against an old hand in Gerrit Cole, who, at 9 and 2 with a 2.85 ERA on 117.0 innings pitched, is making his sixth All Star appearance.
That 2001 meeting was the last time a Yankee started the All Star game and the D-Backs haven’t had a starter since 2002 when Curt Schilling did the honors.
Several injuries have kept fan-voted starters from playing this year, and the re-jigged lineups have left the Texas Rangers sitting on top of the pile with five starters in the lineup.
Here are the starting lineups for the 2023 MLB All Star Game.
National League
- Ronald Acuña Jr., RF (ATL)
- Freddie Freeman, 1B (LAD)
- Mookie Betts, CF (LAD)
- J.D. Martinez, DH (LAD)
- Nolan Arenado, 3B (STL)
- Luis Arraez, 2B (MIA)
- Sean Murphy, C (ATL)
- Corbin Carroll, LF (AZ)
- Orlando Arcia, SS (ATL)
American League
- Marcus Semien, 2B (TEX)
- Shohei Ohtani, DH (LAA)
- Randy Arozarena, LF (TB)
- Corey Seager, SS (TEX)
- Yandy Díaz, 1B (TB)
- Adolis García, RF (TEX)
- Austin Hays, CF (BAL)
- Josh Jung, 3B (TEX)
- Jonah Heim, C (TEX)
The bullpens are just as susceptible to injury as the lineup with several pitchers unable to appear. Here are the full bullpens for the game.
American League
- Luis Castillo, Mariners
- Sonny Gray, Twins
- Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers
- Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays
- Framber Valdez, Astros
- Michael Lorenzen, Tigers
- Kenley Jansen, Red Sox
- Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
- Félix Bautista, Orioles
- Yennier Cano, Orioles
- Shohei Ohtani, Angels (unlikely to pitch in ASG due to finger issue)
- Shane McClanahan, Rays (injured, will not play)
- George Kirby, Mariners (replaces Shane McClanahan)
National League
- Spencer Strider, Braves
- Bryce Elder, Braves
- Justin Steele, Cubs
- Mitch Keller, Pirates
- Josiah Gray, Nationals
- Marcus Stroman, Cubs
- Alexis Díaz, Reds
- Josh Hader, Padres
- Devin Williams, Brewers
- Camilo Doval, Giants
- Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (injured, will not play)
- David Bednar, Pirates (replaces Clayton Kershaw)