Greinke to replace Lester on NL All-Star roster
Zack Greinke is headed to Washington for the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard next Tuesday.
The D-backs ace announced in the visiting clubhouse at Coors Field on Thursday that he will be the replacement for Jonathan Lester on the National League team. The Cubs left-hander was bumped up to start Sunday in San Diego, meaning he will not be available to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
This is the fifth All-Star nod for Greinke, and his second since coming to the D-backs. The 15-year veteran and winner of the 2009 American League Cy Young Award started for the NL squad in the 2015 All-Star Game, when he was with the Dodgers.
Greinke is 9-5 with a 3.39 ERA across 19 starts this season. He's been particularly strong since May 5, going 6-3 with a 2.88 ERA in 13 starts.
Greinke will join Paul Goldschmidt, who is going to his club-record sixth Midsummer Classic, and Patrick Corbin, who has been selected for the second time. This marks the first time in franchise history that the D-backs have had at least three representatives in the All-Star Game in consecutive years. Greinke, Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb and Robbie Ray were All-Stars in 2017.
Greinke is one of five D-backs pitchers to be named to the NL All-Star team multiple times, joining Randy Johnson (5), Brandon Webb (3), Dan Haren (2) and Curt Schilling (2). Greinke is the first D-backs pitcher to make consecutive appearances in the Midsummer Classic since Haren in 2008-09.
While watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX on Tuesday, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.