Report: Justin Verlander to be named A.L. all-star starter

Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reports that Justin Verlander will be named the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game. That will mark another accolade in a year of big ones for the Tigers' ace, who is reigning AL MVP and AL Cy Young Award winner as well. The news will reportedly be announced during a press conference Monday.

Morosi notes:

Verlander, 29, likely would have been the AL starter last season, but he was ineligible to pitch because he started for the Detroit Tigers on the final Sunday before the All-Star break. This year, there are no such complications.

It's a nice acknowledgment that Verlander is again putting up a Cy Young worthy performance this year even as his numbers, relatively speaking, lag behind. Unsurprisingly, when conversation turns to the most "Verlander" moments of the year a loss frequently comes to mind. That game, the Indians were leading the Tigers, 2-1, as he came back out for the eighth inning. Verlander cut through the opposition in 11 pitches. Strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging, strikeout looking. His 116th pitch of the day was a 101.5 mph fastball. The Tigers' offense failed to score, tagging JV with the complete game loss.

At the break, Verlander is 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA.