LDN - Sports

Preview: American League vs. National League

[July 11, 2017] Gracenote

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale is starting in the All-Star Game for the second straight season - the first to turn the trick since Arizona's Randy Johnson (2000-01) - as the American League visits the National League on Tuesday at Marlins Park in Miami. Sale, who started last season's contest as a member of the Chicago White Sox, opposes Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer as the AL seeks to continue its recent dominance.

The AL has won the last four All-Star Games, is 16-3-1 over the past 20 meetings and is looking to add another win behind breakout rookie star Aaron Judge (30 home runs) of the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros trio of second baseman Jose Altuve (AL-best .347), shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder George Springer. The National League has its own exploding standout in Los Angeles Dodgers rookie first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger (25 homers) and a starting lineup featuring four Nationals -- Scherzer, outfielder Bryce Harper, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and second baseman Daniel Murphy (NL-best .342). The decision to tab Scherzer seemed easy with Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw (MLB-leading 14 victories) unavailable because he pitched Sunday but NL manager Joe Maddon (Chicago Cubs) raised eyebrows Monday when he said Scherzer would have been the choice regardless. "I have a ton of respect for Mr. Kershaw but I broke down the numbers, and I had already chosen Max," Maddon said. "Kershaw is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and (Scherzer) probably will be, too. But based on the numbers, I think this is the right way to go."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (11-4, 2.75 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (10-5, 2.10)

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Sale leads the majors with 178 strikeouts - five more than Scherzer - and ranks fourth in the majors in ERA and third in WHIP (0.90). The 28-year-old was excited to start last year's game in San Diego but starting in Miami packs extra importance for the Floridian. "All my family lives here. Brothers, sisters, in-laws, parents, even my aunts and uncles and cousins," Sale told reporters Monday. "So to be able to be here, not too far from where I live now, is nice. I can have my family, extended family come down and experience this with me."

Scherzer leads the majors in ERA, and with a microscopic 0.78 WHIP and a stunning .163 batting average against. "Because of the home run spike (in the majors), I've dialed it in even more to try to make my location better to try to prevent them," Scherzer said Monday. "I think I have a hand in it, in not letting them hit as many homers out, and that's made me a better pitcher." The 32-year-old is making his second All-Star Game start - the other as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2013 - to join Vida Blue, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay and Johnson as pitchers to start the All-Star Game for both leagues.

WALK-OFFS

1. The host Miami Marlins have two players in the NL starting lineup in Giancarlo Stanton (serving as the DH) and Marcell Ozuna.

2. The AL is being managed by Cleveland Indians bench coach Brad Mills after manager Terry Francona underwent a heart procedure last week.

3. RHP Wade Davis is the lone representative of the Chicago Cubs - a team that had seven players on last season's NL All-Star club.

PREDICTION: American League 5, National League 3

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