To be the starting pitcher in the MLB All-Star Game means that you must have really put together quite an impressive first half of the season. Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners and Adam Wainwright of the Saint Louis Cardinals can certainly make that claim as they have been selected to be the starting pitchers in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
AL manager John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox picked Hernandez, who has been quite impressive. He has 11-2 with a 2.12 ERA. His ERA leads all pitchers in the American League, according to the MLB statistical leaders on ESPN.com.
Hernandez is the first Venezuelan to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. He is just the second Mariner to have such an honor. (Randy Johnson is the other, making the start in 1995 and 1997.)
Wainwright was selected by his own manager, Mike Matheny, who will lead the NL All-Stars. Wainwright leads the Majors with 12 wins and a 1.83 ERA. He is the only qualifying pitcher with an ERA under 2.00. He has thrown three complete games this season.
This will mark the 11th time in history that the All-Star Game has been started by a Cardinal pitcher, according to The Associated Press .
The 85th All-Star Game will be on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.