DENVER — Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels‘ transcendent two-way star, will start on the mound and bat leadoff for the American League All-Stars in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game from Coors Field, a fitting tribute to his nearly unprecedented first-half performance.
Ohtani, who will oppose Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals, was voted by the fans as the starting designated hitter and was voted by the players as one of five starting pitchers. Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, who will steer the AL group, said he “took that to heart” in making the decision to start Ohtani.
Cash said he “begged” Major League Baseball to tweak a longstanding rule and basically list Ohtani as both a pitcher and a DH for Tuesday’s lineup, which would allow Cash to insert a new DH when Ohtani comes out of the game rather than continually use a pinch-hitter as Ohtani’s spot in the lineup comes back around.
The Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will bat second and play first base for the AL, followed by Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Boston’s Rafael Devers at third, Toronto second baseman Marcus Semien, Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez, Blue Jays left fielder Teoscar Hernandez and Baltimore center fielder Cedric Mullins.
Roberts’ NL lineup features San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. leading off, followed by the Dodgers’ Max Muncy at designated hitter, St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman, Cincinnati right fielder Nick Castellanos, Reds left fielder Jesse Winker, Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto and Pittsburgh second baseman Adam Frazier.