Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Ben Sheets has been overpowering much of the season. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press)Left-hander Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians will get the start in his all-star game debut Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium in New York, with Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers first to take the mound for the National League.
American League manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox selected Lee to start the 79th all-star game. Lee has rebounded from a disappointing 2007 season, with a 12-2 record and 2.31 earned-run average so far this season.
Lee, 30, won his first six decisions and had surrendered a total of just five runs in his first seven starts. He has struck out 106 batters, with just 20 walks.
"I'm just honored to be here, to be honest with you," Lee said Monday. "To get the start is just icing on the cake … I'm kind of awestruck by it."
In his first ever visit to Yankee Stadium, Sheets will get the call for the National League. Sheets will be making his fourth all-star appearance but first as a starter after being picked by Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle.
Sheets is 10-3 this season with a 2.85 ERA. The big right-hander has 108 strikeouts against just 28 walks in 123 innings.
"I've never been to Yankee Stadium, so I'm going to try to take it all in and just enjoy myself," Sheets said.
Sheets, who turns 30 on Friday, raced out to a 4-0 start this season. He has allowed more than three runs in just four of his 18 starts.
Arizona's Brandon Webb, who leads all major-league pitchers with 13 wins, was among the all-star pitchers who took to the mound on the weekend and are unable to start.
It will be the fourth and final all-star game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the previous contests held in 1939, 1960 and 1977.
Roy Halladay is the lone representative for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The American League All-Stars have the past 10 wins, with the 2002 game declared a tie.
The starting lineups were also announced on Monday. With the game taking place in an AL park, each side will employ a designated hitter.
American League starting batting order:
- Ichiro Suzuki, RF, Seattle Mariners.
- Derek Jeter, SS, N.Y. Yankees.
- Josh Hamilton, CF, Texas Rangers.
- Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees.
- Manny Ramirez, LF, Boston Red Sox.
- Milton Bradley, DH, Texas.
- Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Boston.
- Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins.
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston.
National League starting nine:
- Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida Marlins.
- Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies.
- Lance Berkman, 1B, Houston Astros.
- Albert Pujols, DH, St. Louis Cardinals.
- Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves.
- Matt Holliday, RF, Colorado Rockies.
- Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers.
- Kosuke Fukodome, CF, Chicago Cubs.
- Geovany Soto, C, Chicago.
