FOX Sports Exclusive
Verlander, Cain to start All-Star Game
Matt Cain talks with FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
Share This Story
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
Justin Verlander has accrued virtually every individual honor available to a starting pitcher: a Rookie of the Year award and World Series Game 1 start in 2006; a no-hitter in 2007; Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, along with the second no-hitter of his career, in 2011.
Tuesday, he will add yet another: a start for the American League in the All-Star Game.
American League manager Ron Washington has chosen Verlander as his starting pitcher for the 83rd All-Star Game. The starters will become official at a 1:30 p.m. ET Monday news conference.
Verlander will oppose San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain, whom Tony La Russa selected as his National League starter. Cain will make his first All-Star start, after a similarly decorated career. He threw a perfect game earlier this season and went 2-0 without allowing an earned run in 21-1/3 innings during the 2010 postseason as the Giants won the World Series.
La Russa chose Cain over R.A. Dickey, the 37-year-old knuckleballer who has become the most compelling story in baseball this year. Two things may have swayed La Russa’s decision: NL starting catcher Buster Posey is intimately familiar with Cain (his Giants teammate) and not familiar at all with receiving a knuckleball; and Cain has a better career track record than Dickey.
Verlander, 29, likely would have been the AL starter last season, but he was ineligible to pitch because he started for the Detroit Tigers on the final Sunday before the All-Star break. This year, there are no such complications. Verlander’s most recent start — his major league-leading fifth complete game of the season — was a victory over Minnesota on the Fourth of July. He will have five days of rest before throwing the first pitch of the Midsummer Classic (MLB on FOX, 7:30 p.m. ET).
The site of this year’s All-Star Game — Kauffman Stadium — is significant in Verlander’s career: It was the stadium where he first appeared on an Opening Day roster, six years ago. Verlander’s lifetime ERA at Kauffman Stadium (1.83) is his best in any ballpark where he has made four or more starts.
Verlander, a five-time All-Star, left little doubt that he would get the starting nod, going 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA over his last six starts while holding the opposition to a .194 batting average. Overall, he is 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA this season and is on pace to lead the majors in strikeouts and innings pitched for the second consecutive year.
More Stories From Jon Paul Morosi
Trending Now
-
Wife dumps beer on husband at game
A Cubs fan doused her husband with a cold one Sunday afternoon in what appeared to be... -
Tiger: No plans for truce with Sergio
Tiger Woods spoke for some 20 minutes about the state of his game, belly putters, the... -
Ax to fall soon for LA's Mattingly
Gone tomorrow? With latest losses, I'm convinced Mattingly's tenure in LA will be ...
-
Celtics' Terrence Williams arrested
Kent police say Boston Celtics basketball player Terrence Williams was arrested Sunda... -
Hunter lawsuit proves NBA out for rich
Hunter's lawsuit against Fisher proves NBA puts rich before middle class.
MLB Videos
Morosi: Bring baseball back to Montreal
Posted: May 20, 2013
Jon Paul Morosi on why baseball should head back to Montreal.
Jon Paul Morosi on why baseball should head back to Montreal.
Triple Play: Miguel Cabrera, Giants, and Rays
Posted: May 20, 2013
Jon Paul Morosi on Miguel Cabrera's hot hitting, the Giants pitching struggles, ...
Jon Paul Morosi on Miguel Cabrera's hot hitting, the Giants pitching struggles, ...
Tribe top Mariners in 10th
Posted: May 20, 2013
Yan Gomes talks about the Indians 10-8 win over the Mariners. Gomes hit the game...
Yan Gomes talks about the Indians 10-8 win over the Mariners. Gomes hit the game...
MLB Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New York Yankees Practice T-Shirt - Ash | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/606363/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New York Yankees Practice T-Shirt - Ash |
| Majestic Detroit Tigers 2012 MLB American League Champions Clubhouse Locker Room T-Shirt - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/1064043/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1064000/ff_1064043_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Majestic Detroit Tigers 2012 MLB American League Champions Clubhouse Locker Room.. |
| Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker Room T-Shirt - Gray | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/1067359/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1067000/ff_1067359_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker R.. |
| Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker Room Pullover Hoodie - Steel | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/1067382/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1067000/ff_1067382_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker R.. |
| New Era San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker Room 39THIRTY Flex Hat - Charcoal/Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/1067785/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1067000/ff_1067785_xl.jpg&w=100 | 31.95 | New Era San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Clubhouse Locker Ro.. |
| Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Glory T-Shirt - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/1068294/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1068000/ff_1068294_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Glory T-Shirt - Bl.. |
| Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Batting Practice Performance Jersey - Black/Orange | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/1068787/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1068000/ff_1068787_xl.jpg&w=100 | 94.95 | Majestic San Francisco Giants 2012 MLB World Series Champions Batting Practice P.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.