(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
MLB All-Star week is officially upon us with the Home Run Derby set to kick things off on Monday night.
But first, the managers of each All-Star team released the starting pitchers for the game.
There are plenty of worthy options to start the game in both leagues.
So, Rob Thomson and Dusty Baker had to make a tough decision.
According to MLB, the two starters will be Zac Gallen for the NL and Gerrit Cole for the AL.
Your 2023 #AllStarGame starting pitchers are @zacgallen23 and @GerritCole45.pic.twitter.com/9RwE7OLfUS
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2023
If you take a deep dive on both pitchers this should not come as a surprise.
They have both been lights out this year and are deserving of this honor.
Gallen leads all of baseball in games started and wins.
He is 11-3 on the year with a 3.04 ERA.
Also, he has thrown 118.1 innings on the year and struck out 125 batters.
This is the first All-Star appearance of Gallen’s career and he looks to make the most of it.
On the other side, Cole is making his sixth All-Star appearance but making his first start.
He is tied with Gallen for the most starts in baseball with 19.
Cole has a 9-2 record with a 2.85 ERA.
For most of his career, he has been a dominant strikeout pitcher.
While that has not been the case this year, he has still been effective.
Cole has 9.5 strikeouts per nine, which is his lowest since 2017.
Ultimately, both starters deserve this opportunity and should make for a great All-Star Game.
The post MLB Announces The 2023 All-Star Game Starting Pitchers appeared first on The Cold Wire.