It is that time of the year when players and fans alike wait in anticipation to see who will get an All-Star Game nod. All the hard work and accumulated stats will help determine who gets chosen. This year the 92nd Midsummer Classic will be held in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. It has been forty-two years since it was last played at Chavez Ravine and the countdown has begun.

Many position players have received the news of who made the rosters, and Sunday was another special day for the Dodgers. In addition to right fielder Mookie Betts and shortstop Trea Turner getting invited to represent the National League, a couple of Los Angeles pitchers joined that list.

Future Hall of Famer left-hander Clayton Kershaw was notified by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he has been selected for his ninth All-Star Game, and Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin his first.

It can certainly be argued that because Gonsolin has had the better season thus far with his MLB-best 11-0 record and MLB-best 1.62 ERA that he should be the National League’s starting pitcher. However, Kershaw has the history and owns an impressive 6-2 record and excellent 2.40 ERA. As such, it remains to be seen who National League manager Brian Snitker will select as his team’s starting pitcher. As most would expect, both pitchers were very humble when asked how they would feel to get that prestigious honor. Kershaw has been a mentor to Gonsolin, and Tony was understanding when asked during the postgame interview on Sunday afternoon about who should get the start for the National League team.

“Yeah, I’d love to start the game, that’d be awesome,” Gonsolin stated. “To have it be here with our home crowd, that’d be amazing. But I know Kersh’s history here, lifetime Dodger kind of thing. He means so much to the organization, I wouldn’t be the least bit sad if he got the start as well.”

Kershaw was noticeably happy about pitching in the All-Star Game again. He has been vocal about accepting the honor if it was offered to him, yet adamant regarding not wanting to take anyone’s spot if they were more deserving. He reiterated that on Sunday.

“I mean personally, I’m excited too, you know,” Kershaw said while smiling. “I think it’s been a couple years since I’ve gotten to be in an All-Star Game. Something at Dodger Stadium, too, is special. You know I don’t take that for granted. You know, like I said before, I hope I didn’t take anybody’s spot that was more deserving than me. But now that it’s official and I get to do it, I am very excited about it.”

Roberts is excited for both of his outstanding pitchers. Obviously, there can only be one starter, though. He added his viewpoint on what everyone seems to have on their mind – who of the two high-caliber hurlers with resumes to match might be chosen?

“I think that the All-Star Game is for the fans. There’s really no more prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball than Clayton Kershaw,” said Roberts. “To be in his home ballpark, I’m sure Tony has no problem if it comes to that and being very happy for Clayton. But I think that Tony should have the desire to start as well, absolutely.”

It is never a bad thing to have an abundance of All-Stars representing your team, no matter who ends up starting. The Dodger faithful are in for a treat next week for the Midsummer Classic.

Here’s to the Boys in Blue!

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