Clayton Kershaw tips cap to Max Scherzer; says Nationals star earned All-Star game starthttp://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-kershaw-all-stars-20170710-story.htmlStarting All Star pitchers Chris Sale & Max Scherzer
Clayton Kershaw is at the game in uniform, but withdrew from the roster because he pitched on Sunday....Clayton Kershaw has been an All-Star seven times, yet he has never started the game. “I would love to start someday, no doubt,” Kershaw said. “But Max has earned it. Regardless of whether I was eligible or not, I think Max has earned that right.”
[Cubs and All Star manager] Maddon apparently agreed... I have a ton of respect for Mr. Kershaw,” Maddon said. “But if you just broke down the numbers, I am being honest, I had already chosen Max, based on what I had just read numerically.”
The gap between the players statistically is minuscule. Kershaw has a record of 14-2 with a 2.18 earned-run average; Scherzer is 10-5 with a 2.10 ERA. Kershaw has logged 132 1/3 innings; Scherzer has logged 128 1/3. Scherzer has struck out 173 batters, 14 more than Kershaw. Scherzer leads Kershaw in both FanGraphs’ and Baseball-Reference’s versions of wins above replacement.
Kershaw owns a more impressive historical resume, with three Cy Young Awards and a finish in the top five in six consecutive seasons. Scherzer won the American League Cy Young Award in 2013 and won the National League version last season, when Kershaw’s candidacy was hampered by his lengthy absence after injuring his back.
“Usually the best one in the National League starts, and Max has done that,” Kershaw said. “If I ever get to be the best one in the National League for the first half, I would love to start.”
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