5 pitchers named as All-Star Game replacement players

July 8th, 2023

Tuesday's All-Star Game in Seattle will feature a host of new faces after five pitchers – one from the American League and four from the National League -- were added to the rosters Saturday.

Twins starter Pablo López was the lone addition to the AL squad, replacing Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, who pitched on Saturday. Acquired in an offseason trade, López has a 3.89 ERA with Minnesota this year. He shut down the Royals on Wednesday, tossing a four-hit shutout with no walks and 12 strikeouts.

On the NL side, four players were added to replace the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman, the Brewers’ Devin Williams and the Braves’ Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder. Stroman, Strider and Elder were all lined up to start this week, making them unavailable for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Mets rookie right-hander Kodai Senga, who has a 3.31 ERA in his debut season, will fill Stroman’s spot. Senga is coming off a dominant start Wednesday against the D-backs, pitching eight innings of one-run baseball and striking out 12.

The Giants’ Alex Cobb will take the spot of Elder, who is scheduled to start Sunday. In his second year with San Francisco, Cobb has a 2.91 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings.

Brewers ace Corbin Burnes will replace Strider, the current Major League leader in strikeouts with 155. Burnes, who won the 2021 NL Cy Young Award and led the NL in strikeouts last season, has a 3.94 ERA in 107 1/3 innings this year.

Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel -- the NL Reliever of the Month for June -- will take the spot of Williams, who will travel to Seattle but will not pitch. Kimbrel has 14 saves for Philadelphia and has allowed just one run in 17 innings pitched since June 1.

The 2023 All-Star Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday and will be televised on FOX.