Sale, Scherzer to pitch MLB All-Star Game

 Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale and Washington Nationalsace Max Scherzer have been chosen as the starting pitchers for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Miami.

Sale becomes the first pitcher to make back-to-back All-Star appearances following his start for the American League last year while playing for the Chicago White Sox.

The 28-year-old is also the first pitcher to make consecutive starts since Arizona's Randy Johnson achieved the feat for the National League in 2000-01.

Sale was traded in December to the Red Sox and is currently 11-4 with a 2.75 ERA and a major league-leading 178 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings this season.

Scherzer, 32, is making his second All-Star start following an appearance in 2013 when he pitched a perfect inning. Scherzer was playing for the Detroit Tigers at the time.

Scherzer, who becomes only the fifth pitcher to start All-Star Games for both leagues, is 10-5 with a 2.10 ERA and 173 strikeouts this season.

In-form Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw has a 14-2 record this season but is unavailable for the All-Star Game after pitching in Sunday's win over the Kansas City Royals.

National League manager Joe Maddon meanwhile unveiled his batting line-up on Monday, with Colorado's Charlie Blackmon leading off followed by Miami's Giancarlo Stanton as designated hitter.

Washington's Bryce Harper is third, ahead of San Francisco's Buster Posey.

Source: AFP