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Max Scherzer was named the starting pitcher for the American League All-Star Team. The Mets' Matt Harvey will start for the National League.
Scherzer (13-1, 3.19 ERA) makes a good choice, though he did start for the Tigers on Saturday. He started the season 13-0, matching Roger Clemens' start in 1986, before finally taking a loss over the weekend. With 152 strikeouts, he trails only Yu Darvish (157) in that category, though he has thrown 10 more innings than the Rangers starter.
"This is what you dream for, to get the nod over so many great pitchers," Scherzer said. "I'm really excited to start my first game."
Leyland introduced him, saying, "13-1 Max Scherzer, I don't think I need to explain any more than that."
Scherzer said he has iced his left arm, which was struck by a ball during his start Saturday, and added that it shouldn't affect his pitching.
This marks the second consecutive year the AL starter comes from the Tigers. But the AL will have to hope Scherzer does a better job than Justin Verlander did a year earlier. JV gave up five earned runs on four hits and two walks in an inning of work. The AL never recovered. Then again the AL never scored either, so even one run would have been too many. The final score: 8-0, NL.
Scherzer will also be the third different pitcher to start the All-Star Game for the Tigers since their resurgence. Kenny Rogers and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez made up the AL's starting battery in 2006, marking the Tigers' return to mattering in the sport after more than a decade of being awful.
The National League has won for three consecutive seasons. With the Tigers being the betting favorite to return to the World Series, turning that streak back will be key. With Scherzer starting, Miguel Cabrera starting at third, and three other Tigers available to come off the bench (Verlander started Sunday and isn't available), at least the team has some control over its destiny.
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