Yamamoto, Kershaw bring Dodgers' All-Star total to 5

LOS ANGELES -- Barely a year and a half into his Major League career, Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is headed to his first All-Star Game.

Yamamoto was named to the National League pitching staff Sunday, along with Clayton Kershaw, who was a “Legend Pick” by Commissioner Rob Manfred. The All-Star Game presented by Mastercard is set for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Yamamoto, who was a five-time NPB All-Star, has 2.51 ERA through 17 starts, ranking third lowest among qualified NL pitchers, behind Paul Skenes (1.94) and Zack Wheeler (2.17).

“You know, Yoshinobu has been great,” manager Dave Roberts said before the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Astros. “I think that he's shown the ability to beat good ballclubs, pitch big ballgames, manage stress, limit damage, all that stuff. So, yeah, I think he's back to kind of being who he is, and not surprising. I'm just really impressed with what he's done in a year and a half of being here.”

One of two Dodgers pitchers who hasn't missed a start this season, Yamamoto has emerged as the ace in a rotation loaded with talent, when healthy.

"It would be such an honor for me if I was selected or voted in," Yamamoto said recently through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. "That's Major League Baseball, that kind of stage and the top players across the league will be there. That would be an honor for me."

Yamamoto, 26, had a 2.20 ERA into the middle of June before taking two consecutive losses while giving up a combined eight runs to the Giants and Padres. But he rebounded to go five scoreless innings against the Rockies on June 25 and gave up one run in seven innings to the White Sox on Tuesday. He earned the win in each of his last two outings.

The two Dodgers pitchers will join fan-voted starters Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Will Smith (catcher) and Freddie Freeman (first base). Ohtani is appearing in an All-Star Game for the fifth time, all by fan vote. Smith is making his third appearance and first start, while Freeman will make his ninth appearance and fifth by fan election.

Outfielder Andy Pages advanced to Phase 2 of All-Star Game fan voting but was not selected a starter among the six outfield finalists. He was not named among the NL reserves on Sunday either, although the second-year player could be added if a roster replacement is needed.

Pages, 24, is batting .293 with an .835 OPS and has 17 home runs with 58 RBIs in 86 games.

Roberts earned NL manager honors after the Dodgers advanced to the World Series last season. He did not have input on selecting reserve players, like the All-Star Game skipper had in the past, and he wasn't exactly disappointed about it.

“Fortunately, for the manager, I don't get a choice on the roster, so that's good and bad because I can't kind of just pick my guys,” Roberts said. “But I don't have the pressure of hearing the other managers. But as far as the starting pitcher, that's my decision I'm thinking through that.”

Asked if he is thinking about a tall right-hander with a mustache in Pittsburgh as the NL starter, Roberts smiled but declined to say if Skenes will be his guy.

“I’m thinking about a tall guy, so we’ll see,” Roberts said.