Phillies sending 4 pitchers, club-record 7 total to All-Star Game
The Philadelphia Phillies have baseball’s best record, and will be well-represented at this month’s All-Star Game.
In total, the Phillies have seven All-Stars; Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm. It marks the first time in franchise history that the Phillies have had six All-Stars in the same year, let alone seven. They previously had five representatives in 2011, 2009, 1995, 1981, 1979 and 1976.
This is the second time in Wheeler’s career that he’s been an All-Star, as he previously was in 2021. Wheeler is 9-4 this year with a 2.74 ERA and 3.28 FIP across 111 2/3 innings pitched. Among NL pitchers, only Wheeler’s Phillies teammate Aaron Nola — who was not selected — and Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants have thrown more innings.
For Suárez, it’s the first time that he’s been selected to the All-Star Game in his career. Despite some recent struggles, Suárez has still been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, as he’s 10-3 with a 2.58 ERA over 18 starts this season. One would think he’ll be a candidate that NL manager Torey Lovullo considers to start the game for the NL.
Hoffman leads all NL relievers in ERA (1.21) and is tied for the lead in WAR (1.5). The 31-year-old — who can become a free agent after the season — also has recorded eight saves this season. It’s the continuation of an incredible career transformation into a high-leverage reliever for the former first-round pick.
Hoffman is tied for the NL lead in WAR among relievers with his teammate, Strahm. He leads NL relievers in FIP (1.43). Strahm even had a stretch of 27 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run earlier this season.
It had previously been announced that the Phillies will have 3/4 of the starting infield for the NL, assuming Bryce Harper is back from the injured list.
Harper received the most votes of any player in the NL during Phase 1 of All-Star Game voting, meaning he was automatically named the starting first baseman. Prior to going on the injured list, Harper was hitting .303 with 20 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .981 OPS. It’s the eighth time Harper has been selected to the All-Star Game, but it would mark the first time he’s actually played in the exhibition since joining the Phillies in 2019.
Despite missing nearly six weeks with a left hamstring strain, Turner was voted the starting shortstop for the senior circuit once Mookie Betts suffered a broken left hand that would have prevented him from actually playing in the game. Entering Sunday, Turner was hitting .340 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs and an .888 OPS. This is the third time Turner has been an All-Star.
Finally, Bohm will start for the NL at third base in his first career All-Star Game. Bohm currently leads baseball with 29 doubles, and the 2.7 WAR he has this season is already a new single-season career-high, per FanGraphs. He’s also slated to participate in next Monday’s Home Run Derby.
Cristopher Sánchez has had a breakout season — which recently earned him a new contract and the NL Pitcher of the Month in June — but was not ultimately picked. Among qualified NL starters Sánchez is second in FIP (2.58) and fourth in WAR (2.9), per FanGraphs. It’s still possible that he could be added as a replacement for a pitcher who either drops out or is unable to pitch in the game because they start on Sunday.
The MLB All-Star Game will be held at 8 p.m. ET on July 16, with Globe Life Field in Arlington set to host the contest.
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