Kemp's improbable first half leads to ASG start
Jansen's turnaround earns closer a nod via players' ballot
ANAHEIM -- Matt Kemp revived his career, Kenley Jansen saved his season and the Dodgers' duo has been rewarded with berths in the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, MLB announced on Sunday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will skipper the NL club and be joined by his coaching staff, said he's still hopeful stand-in ace, Thomas Stripling, will be added to the roster as a replacement after being left off the initial pitching staff.
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Kemp was voted by fans onto the starting lineup as one of three outfielders for the NL. It will be his third All-Star appearance, but first since 2012 in a Comeback Player of the Year Award-caliber season after his reacquisition in an offseason trade with Atlanta that was largely seen as a salary swap.
"For Matt to come back to Los Angeles and be voted in by the fans, I don't think he'll let on how much this means to him, but it's well deserved," said Roberts.
Jansen will be making his third consecutive All-Star appearance despite a rocky start to the season after management instituted a casual Spring Training in response to last year's heavy workload. Jansen was voted in by his peers.
"It feels more special than the first two. Those I pretty much knew I'd be an All-Star, but this one, very slow April, I took all the criticism and put it on my shoulder and motivated me," said Jansen. "This is special, to hear the players voted for you. I turned my season around, and it means a lot."
Stripling, whose relief role changed dramatically when 80 percent of the starting rotation was injured in April and May, is second in league ERA at 2.22. His 103 strikeouts and 13 walks represent a league-leading ratio.
Notable for his absence on the NL club is Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, whose string of seven consecutive All-Star berths was snapped. The lefty's first half has been marred by disabled list stints for biceps tendinitis and a lower back strain.