Kershaw becomes three-time All-Star

SAN FRANCISCO -- Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was the only Dodger named to the National League team for the 84th All-Star Game, which will be held July 16 at Citi Field in New York. It is Kershaw's third consecutive selection.

The announcement was made Saturday on the MLB All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell.

From now until Thursday, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2013 All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com for the final player for each League's All-Star roster. The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez are among the five NL candidates.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

The last Dodgers pitcher to make three consecutive All-Star teams was closer Eric Gagne (2002-04). The last Dodgers starting pitcher to string together three straight All-Star berths was Orel Hershiser (1987-89).

"Consistency is always something you strive for," said Kershaw. "Any guy can have a good first half or year, even. As a player, you get respect from doing it year in and year out. That's just what I try to do."

The 25-year-old Kershaw made the team despite a 7-5 record, but he's pitched far better than that record shows.

"He's earned it, the way he's pitched all year," said manager Don Mattingly. "You can't pitch much better than he's pitched. He deserves a few more W's."

Going into Saturday's games, Kershaw led the league with a 1.92 ERA and a .189 opponents batting average and is among league leaders in innings pitched, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts.

Kershaw starts Sunday against the Giants and his spot in the rotation comes up again Friday, so he expects to pitch in the All-Star Game. Pitchers who start next Sunday are ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.

"I'll let those guys figure it out," Kershaw said of the starting nod, speculating that it will go to hometown favorite Matt Harvey. "It's always a ton of fun to go and to be there in New York, obviously an incredible city. I look forward to it."

Last year, the Dodgers had two All-Stars -- Kershaw and Matt Kemp.