SportyTV | Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen to start All-Star Game

MLB’s All-Star Game starting pitches were announced Monday, with one veteran of the Midsummer Classic and one first-timer getting the nod.

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, a six-time All-Star, will start for the American League, while rookie honouree Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks will take the bump for the National League.

Cole will become the 11th different Yankees pitcher to start the All-Star Game and the first since Roger Clemens in 2001. He finished his first half with a 9-2 record, a 2.85 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 117 innings.

At 11-3, Gallen is tied for the Major League lead in wins at the break and has a 3.04 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings. Gallen’s 1.05 WHIP leads all qualified starters in the NL.

Curt Schilling’s All-Star start in 2002 was the last by a Diamondbacks pitcher, which followed a two-year run by teammate Randy Johnson in 2000 and 2001.

The selections were made Monday by AL manager Dusty Baker and NL manager Rob Thompson ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

“It’s been a whirlwind really,” the 27-year-old Gallen said. “This is something I dreamed of as a kid, so for it to come to fruition is everything and more.”

While neither starter is expected to throw very many pitches, Cole will take ball on two days’ rest after going 7 1/3 innings in a win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

“It's always something I wanted to do,” Cole said. “I feel like I’m physically able to do it.”

Baker was not inclined to interfere with Cole accomplishing his goal of starting in the All-Star Game.

“Hey, if a man like Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch,” Baker.