By Reggie Mason
Six-Time All-Star Gerrit Cole Receives First Starting Nod at Midsummer Classic; First-Time All-Star Zac Gallen Draws Start For National League
7/9/2023
Seattle, WA – Earlier today, the 2023 All-Star Game managers, Dusty Baker of the American League and Rob Thomson of the National League, announced their starting lineups for Baseball’s 93rd Midsummer Classic, to be played on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The lineups were announced at this morning’s 2023 All-Star Game Press Conference, which was carried live by MLB Network.
Baker’s AL lineup will be:
1. Marcus Semien, 2B (TEX)
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH (LAA)
3. Randy Arozarena, LF (TB)
4. Corey Seager, SS (TEX)
5. Yandy Díaz, 1B (TB)
6. Adolis García, RF (TEX)
7. Austin Hays, CF (BAL)
8. Josh Jung, 3B (TEX)
9. Jonah Heim, C (TEX)
Baker has selected right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees AL’s starting pitcher. This marks the first career All-Star start for the six-time All-Star. The 32-year-old will become the 12th different Yankees pitcher (20th time) to start the Midsummer Classic, and the first since Roger Clemens started the last All-Star Game played in Seattle during his Cy Young Award-winning 2001 season. Other Yankees hurlers to start the Midsummer Classic include Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez (five times, 1933-35, 1937-38); Hall of Famer Red Ruffing (twice, 1939-40); Spud Chandler (1942); Hank Borowy (1944); Vic Raschi (twice, 1950, 1952); Hall of Famer Whitey Ford (three times, 1954, 1960-61); Bob Turley (1958); Mel Stottlemyre (1969); Jimmy Key (1994); and David Wells (1998). In 19 starts on the season, Cole is 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA. In 117.0 innings, Cole has allowed just 39 runs (37 earned) on 97 hits with 34 walks and 123 strikeouts. New York is 14-5 on the season in Cole’s 19 games started and the 14 victories are tied for the second-most by a club in a pitcher’s starts this season. In addition, the Yankees are 8-0 on the season in games started by Cole following a loss, and the former number one overall pick is 5-0 with a 2.13 ERA in those eight starts.
Thomson’s NL lineup will be:
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF (ATL)
2. Freddie Freeman, 1B (LAD)
3. Mookie Betts, CF (LAD)
4. J.D. Martinez, DH (LAD)
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B (STL)
6. Luis Arraez, 2B (MIA)
7. Sean Murphy, C (ATL)
8. Corbin Carroll, LF (AZ)
9. Orlando Arcia, SS (ATL)
Thomson has chosen Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen as the NL’s starting pitcher. The 27-year-old, who is an All-Star for the first time in his career, will become just the third D-backs hurler (fourth time) to start a Midsummer Classic, joining Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (2000-01) and Curt Schilling (2002). Ironically, the 2023 All-Star Game will feature starting pitchers from the Yankee and Diamondbacks for just the second time, joining the last Midsummer Classic in Seattle in 2001 (Johnson/Clemens). Gallen, who is tied for the Major League lead in wins, is 11-3 with a 3.04 ERA on the season. In 118.1 innings pitched, he has permitted 45 runs (40 earned) on 101 hits with 23 walks and 125 strikeouts. Like Cole, Gallen has also thrived following a loss by his club, going 7-0 with a 1.80 ERA on the season in 10 such starts.
The 93rd Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and TVA Sports; and worldwide by partners in 209 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish language coverage in the United States. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game, while Univision will provide Spanish language coverage on radio. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week, please visit All-StarGame.com and follow @MLB on social media.
COURTESY MLB MEDIA RELATIONS & MLBpressbox.com
