July 10, 2023, 7:33 AM
The stellar players of the National League, led by the Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr., will try this Tuesday to break the spell after nine straight losses in the Major League All-Star Games against the American League.
Not counting the 2020 edition (suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic) the Nacional teams have conceded nine straight losses.
La Americana also dominates the record 47-43, with two draws.
One of the sensations of the clash will be the Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, of the Los Angeles Angels, who received votes to be designated hitter and pitcher, the only one in the Majors.
Acuña and Ohtani were the ones who benefited the most from the public and thus automatically earned the starting position in their respective teams.
Ohtani, the hitting and pitching threat who leads the season in both leagues with 30 home runs, was voted the AL’s starting designated hitter on ballots.
The 28-year-old right-hander is also allowing opposing hitters a meager .180 batting average, the lowest in the majors, as a pitcher, which would also give him a starting job on the mound.
In the new election, the Latin American players made themselves felt once again.
Some AL pitchers included Framber Valdez (Astros), Sonny Gray (Twins), Luis Castillo (Mariners) and Gerrit Cole (Yankees).
Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, a 35-year-old left-hander, was selected for his 10th All-Star Game on the NL roster.
Kershaw is a three-time NL Cy Young Pitching Award winner for best pitcher.
Other National League pitchers include Marcus Stroman (Cubs), Justin Steele (Cubs) and Josh Hader (Padres).
The AL starters include four players from the Texas Rangers (catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Josh Jung and shortstop Corey Seager) as well as outfielders Aaron Judge (Yankees, injured), Cuban Randy Arozarena (Rays) and Mike Trout (Angels).
For his part, Acuña leads eight teammates from the Braves, leaders in the National League, which are Bryce Elder, Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, Ozzie Albies from Curacao, Orlando Arcia, also from Venezuela, Matt Olson and Austin Riley.
It’s the most in one season in franchise history, surpassing the 2003 and 1997 seasons, when it had seven.
The Braves’ eight also tie the 2008 Cubs, 1960 Pirates, 1956 Reds and 1943 Cardinals for the NL club with the most All-Stars in a year.
The managers of each team will announce the starting pitchers on Monday, one day before the game.
On the previous day, the home run competition will take place as always, which was won last year by the Dominican Juan Soto, now with the San Diego Padres.
On this occasion, the duels between the Cubans Randy Arozarena against his compatriot Adolis García, the also Cuban Luis Robert Jr. against Adley Rutschman, the Dominicans Julio Rodríguez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the match between Pete Alonso and Mookie Betts will be seen in action. .
Arozarena, García and Robert Jr. will seek to join Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14), until now the only Cuban player to have won the home run contest.
Lineups for the All-Star Game:
1B: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
2B: Luis Arráez, Marlins (FRI)
3B: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
SS: Orlando Arcia, Braavos (VEN)
OF: Ronald Coin Jr., Braves (VEN)
OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
OF: Corbin Carroll, D´Backs
BD: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (CUB)
1B: Yandy Díaz, Rays (CUB)
2B: Marcus Semien, Rangers
SS: Corey Seager, Rangers
OF: Randy Arozarena, Rays (CUB)
OF: Adolis García, Rangers (CUB)
OF: Mike Trout, Angelinos
BD: Shohei Ohtani, Angelinos
2023-07-10 14:10:59
#National #League #break #curse #AllStar #Game #avoid #tenth #straight #loss
