With Cody Bellinger leading the way as a starter in the outfield for the National League, four more Dodgers players were named All-Star reserves: starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Walker Buehler, and infielder Max Muncy.
The selection of the quartet underscores just how well things are going in Los Angeles. Not only is the Dodgers' lineup one of the most fearsome in baseball, but their rotation is humming along with the Majors' best ERA at 3.01, despite injuries at various points along the way to Kershaw and Rich Hill.
"It means that we've had a good run," Kershaw said. "It means that we're on a good team, and it means that we get to go to Cleveland together, so it'll be fun."
"It just shows how deep we are and what kind of team we are," Buehler said. "With Rich out, and Kenta [Maeda] is throwing the ball well, too. So, we've had five guys that have been throwing the ball really good, including Ross Stripling and Julio Urias. Everybody who takes the mound for us has been really good."
Los Angeles’ five representatives in the Midsummer Classic are the most in the NL, ahead of Colorado and Milwaukee, which have four apiece. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts will also be there, as he’ll be managing the NL squad after leading Los Angeles to the World Series last season. Roberts said after Sunday's 10-5 victory over the Rockies that he will "expect" Ryu to start the All-Star Game, though that is not official.
Kershaw, Ryu and Buehler have been outstanding for the Dodgers in 2019, combining for a 2.80 ERA over 46 starts.
It's the eighth All-Star selection for Kershaw in 12 Major League seasons. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner has a 3.23 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 14 starts this year, continuing his transformation into a pitcher with a lower-velocity fastball, but doing so successfully.
"They all mean a lot, but I think from where I was in Spring Training [dealing with a shoulder injury] to where I am now, I don't know if I necessarily thought I'd get to go," Kershaw said. "So, in that sense, it's maybe a little bit more rewarding, especially after not getting to go last year."
Ryu is an All-Star for the first time after a first half in which he has been the best starting pitcher in baseball. Though he didn’t live up to his full potential in past seasons due to injury, the left-hander has put it together in 2019, posting a 1.83 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 16 starts while walking only seven batters all season.
"It's definitely an honor and a privilege," Ryu said through an interpreter. "There definitely have been ups and downs, including my injuries, and having a good first half like I had, it resulted in my first All-Star Game. I'm going to enjoy it, but also prepare as best I can and hopefully do a good job there."
Buehler is also an All-Star for the first time after finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting last season. So far in 2019, the 24-year-old right-hander owns a 3.43 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 27-percent strikeout rate and 7.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
"I think the biggest thing for me was trying not to get off to a bad start and simplifying the game," Buehler said. "I think the run I've had the past couple of months, with the exception of the start [at Coors Field], has been limiting walks and striking guys out. It's been a good run, and obviously, I'm very honored."
Bellinger was voted by the fans as a starting outfielder during the Starters Election earlier in the week. He entered play Sunday slashing .348/.445/.703 with 27 homers and eight steals, an early front-runner in the NL MVP Award race.
After the starters were announced, the remaining roster spots -- 24 in the NL, 23 in the American League -- were filled via the player ballot and the Commissioner’s Office. The player ballot filled 16 of 24 available spots in the NL and 17 of 23 in the AL, and the Commissioner’s Office filled the remainder.
As has been the case since 2017, the AL and NL managers had no say in roster construction.
The 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will be played on Tuesday, July 9, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
During the game, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.