Greinke has put up ridiculous numbers in his first 18 starts of the season, posting a personal record of 8-2, 1.39 ERA and microscopic 0.84 WHIP.
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Keuchel will become the fourth Astros pitcher to start the All-Star game, joining J.R. Richard, Mike Scott (twice) and Roger Clemens.
A big part of Sale’s increased strikeout rate is getting better with all his pitches, but especially becoming more effective with his four-seam fastball, which has a whiff rate of 17.2 percent this season.
Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA), of the Astros, will start on the mound for the American League, Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Bochy’s batting order has Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen leading off, followed by Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier, Washington right fielder Bryce Harper, Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo at DH, St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta, the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson in left and Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Altuve is just the seventh player (10th overall) in Astros history to earn a fan-elected start, and the first to do so since Berkman (first base) in 2008.
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The only previous team to open with all righty batters was the NL for the first of two games in 1962. Hinch is a member of the league’s coaching staff. That All-Star Game was hosted by the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The last time the home-run derby was rained out: 1988, the last time the All-Star Game was played in Cincinnati.
