In his first year with the Giants, Cueto leads the National League with 13 wins (against just one loss) and a 2.47 ERA. This comes on the heels of hitting just.226/.294/.434 with 26 home runs in 2015 and.217/.281/.373 with 18 home runs 2014.
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Sale, 27, leads the majors with 14 wins, which is the most by a starting pitcher at the All-Star Break since Ubaldo Jimenez posted 15 wins in 2010.
Cueto has been nothing shy of marvelous all season for the Giants in his first year with the team - if he wasn’t at the top of National League manager Terry Collins’ list to start the All-Star Game, then it only speaks to the level of pitching dominance the National League boasts this year. Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta (12-4, 2.68 ERA) had been an outside candidate for the start, though he hasn’t been as consistent as Cueto lately.
Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto wasn’t the first choice. “So I’m just very appreciative of all that have put me together to get me to this point today”. “We had five very qualified guys, but when it came to a decision in the last week, he was the guy”.
“It’s a pretty special time for the city of Chicago, and obviously we’re playing well, the White Sox are playing well. The numbers speak for themselves and I think that’s the reason they chose me to start the game”. Sale did lose his last start against the Atlanta Braves on Friday, but has pitched well throughout the season.
The Lakeland native earned the win in the 2013 All-Star Game, a 3-0 AL victory, after hurling a pair of flawless innings in which he struck out two and allowed only one ball to leave the infield.
Ozuna and Gonzalez are replacements for the Cubs’ Dexter Fowler and the Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes, who are hurt.
He will be the 3rd White Sox pitcher to start the All-Star game.
“I plan on just letting it eat for an inning, just getting after it”, Sale said Monday.
With the NL hosting four straight All-Star Games, the AL is serving as the home team in alternate seasons, including this year in San Diego. The National League lineup will have Cubs second basemen Ben Zobrist hitting leadoff and third baseman Kris Bryant third.
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Buster Posey eyes Johnny Cueto and sees Madison Bumgarner. “I’m going to enjoy every second of it and just enjoy it”.
