All-Star Game Snubs: The Pitching Edition

Earlier today we went over the snubs that did not make the All-Star Game on the offensive side of the game so it seems only fitting that we also cover the snubs on the pitching side of things. With the reduction in roster spots on the respective All-Star teams the amount of snubs are at an all-time high including these three glaring examples. If I missed any of if you disagree then leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below and let’s start a conversation.

Carlos Carrasco of the Cleveland Indians has already surpassed the 100 strikeout mark this season and we are barely into July baseball. At the time of the team announcements Carrasco was sporting a 1.05 WHIP with a 3.50 ERA in 97.2 innings pitched. Sure the ERA was a bit high but in an era of sabermetrics and advanced statistics does anyone really pay attention to primitive stats like ERA anymore? Well maybe, I mean I did quote it just two or three lines above, but does it hold the same weight as it used to? I didn’t think so, but maybe.

Another pitcher that got snubbed is a pitcher that I suggested the Yankees buy-low on this winter in the Washington Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez has done nothing but bounce back in 2017 to post the third lowest ERA at the time of the roster announcement with a 2.77 ERA while also posting 104 strikeouts. Gonzalez was left off because it was either he, Stephen Strasburg or Max Scherzer that was going to be snubbed but I am sure that doesn’t make the southpaw feel any better about this. Gonzalez deserves to be there.

The final pitcher, also a lefty, is Felipe Rivero of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rivero was sporting a 0.82 ERA when the rosters were announced over the weekend to go along with his 49 strikeouts and 14 holds for a mediocre Pittsburgh Pirates team. I know the All-Star Game is full of starters and closers but sometimes the setup man is just as important as the closer, if not more important. That is definitely the case with Rivero.