Clayton Kershaw has been the premier pitcher in MLB this season, but the reigning Cy Young Award winner was not selected as the NL starter for Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Target Field. Instead, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who is managing the All-Star team, chose his stud Adam Wainwright as the starter.
Rather than be angry or bitter over the decision, Kershaw said he understands Matheny’s choice.
“I kind of assumed [it would happen],” Kershaw said of Matheny’s choice via the OC Register’s Bill Plunkett. “Adam had best first half. It’s his manager. You’re not going to not pick your guy.”
He’s absolutely right. Matheny has to reward his guy in this case, and it’s not like picking Wainwright is a stretch; he is deserving of the honor.
Though Kershaw through a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and had a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings just before the break, Wainwright’s numbers have been outstanding as well. Waino is 12-4 with a 1.83 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. Kershaw is 11-2 with a 1.78 ERA and 0.83 WHIP and has pitched more than 42 fewer innings than Wainwright, though he has 11 more strikeouts than the Cardinals ace.
Kershaw has been the hottest pitcher, but Wainwright has done more. He is fully deserving of the honor. And credit to Kershaw for having a good attitude about things. There’s a reason why they say Kershaw is just as good of a guy off the field as on it.
It’s also nice that Wainwright completely appreciates the honor.
“Just an overwhelming sense of pride and achievement,” Wainwright said when describing how he felt upon being told the news by his manager during an interview with ESPN’s Buster Olney. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Something I’ve been kind of jealous of other people that got to do that. I can remember a lot of those pitchers who started the All-Star Game, so to be on that list is pretty special.”
