Quintet of Dodgers hyped for All-Star Game
CINCINNATI -- From his vantage point during Monday's National League media access, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly could keep an eye on all five of his players who were picked to play in Tuesday's All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile.
On more than one occasion, Mattingly, who is part of NL manager Bruce Bochy's All-Star Game staff, beamed when talking about his players.
:: All-Star Game on FOX: Tuesday, Coverage begins 7 ET ::
Mattingly has a lot to smile about. The Dodgers are 51-39 at the All-Star break, 4 1/2 games ahead of the Giants in the NL West.
The Dodgers' All-Star contingent consists of two first-timers in outfielder Joc Pederson, a rookie who will start in left field Tuesday, and Yasmani Grandal, who is flourishing in his first season with the Dodgers after joining the team in a blockbuster deal with the Padres in December.
Video: Grandal and Pederson excited to make NL All-Star team
"It's been great," Grandal said. "The fact I get to make the All-Star team for the first time, I get to represent the Dodgers, I had a good first half... it's all been great."
Grandal is batting .282/.401/.526 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs this season. He ranks second on the team to Gonzalez, who, like Grandal, is a former Padre. Gonzalez is hitting .283/.355/.520 with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs. This will be his fifth All-Star Game and first with the Dodgers.
"Any time you come into a new situation, it's about your willingness to work and adapt," said Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who was added to the NL roster on Sunday. "He [Grandal] has done a good job learning us [pitchers]. It's been a pretty seamless transition."
Kershaw replaced Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer. This is his fifth consecutive All-Star Game nod. Kershaw has a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts this season.
"You never take it for granted. You never know if it's going to happen again," said Kershaw of being added to the NL roster.
Zack Greinke will start the game for the NL after going 8-2 with a 1.39 ERA in 18 starts. He'll be joined in the starting lineup by Pederson, who has made a big impact in the first half, hitting 20 home runs.
During the All-Star Game in Cincinnati, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MVP Vote presented by Chevrolet, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app.
The 86th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (coverage begins 4 p.m. PT), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.