Wilson & Rooker Represent the Athletics
The 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will take place tonight at Truist Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The pomp and circumstance has been alive and well in Georgia since Friday with events like the HBCU Swingman Classic, the Celebrity Softball Game, and of course the Home Run Derby last night. Tonight’s Midsummer Classic features nineteen first-time All-Stars, including a rookie starting shortstop who we all know and admire.
The Athletics have two representatives this year, one starter and one substitute. Starting for the first time ever is A’s rookie Shortstop Jacob Wilson. He’ll be joined later in the game by DH/Outfielder Brent Rooker, fresh off his appearance in last night’s Home Run Derby.
Last Year’s World Series managers will take over the teams again this year, matching Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for the National League against Yankees skipper Aaron Boone for the American League.
The starting pitchers for tonight’s game are Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers and Paul Skenes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skubal brings a 10-3 record into the game with an ERA of 2.23 in nineteen starts. He’s tossed 153 strikeouts in 121 innings. Skenes record is 4-8 with a 2.01 ERA in twenty starts. He’s logged 131 K’s in his 121 innings. Skenes will face this lineup for the American League All-Stars:
Skubal will face this lineup for the homestanding National League All-Stars:
Long-standing fans will recognize a throwback change that we’ve all be yelling for MLB to bring back; the return of players wearing their team uniforms. The players wore the Nike All-Star uni’s last night but thankfully that will be the end of them.
Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron will be celebrated during the game also. His celebration kicked off with an All-Star 4.4 Miler race on the site of the former Turner Field where Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time Home Run record, followed by the unveiling of a mural on the site honoring Aaron.
This will mark the first time the event features use of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system. According to mlb.com, the game will feature the same rules that were in use during an experiment with the challenge system in Spring Training this year. Each team will begin the game with two challenges apiece, with correct challenges retained and challenges only coming from the pitcher, catcher, or hitter, without any assistance from the dugout. A challenge occurs when the player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire and to initiate the challenge.
Let’s all enjoy the game and root for our A’s to show the world why we admire them!
Follow the Game:
Watch:
National Broadcast- FOX
Listen:
ESPN Radio