D-backs’ Zack Greinke replaced in All-Star Game for personal reasons
Jul 6, 2019, 3:39 PM | Updated: Jul 7, 2019, 8:16 am
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke follows through on a throw to the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
After tossing seven shut out innings against the Rockies on Friday, speculation may have started to brew that the 35-year-old could get the nod to start for the NL All-Star team on Tuesday.
That speculation was shot down on Saturday as the MLB announced on Twitter that Greinke had been replaced from the All-Star game due to a personal matter.
Greinke would have had three full days of rest before tossing in the mid-summer classic and his numbers certainly warrant a consideration for the starting spot.
He is tied for the NL lead in wins and ranks in the top five in ERA, WHIP and innings pitched. He is ranked No. 15 in the NL in strikeouts with 108.
Earning the win last night against the Colorado Rockies helped the D-backs snap an eight-game losing streak against their NL West rivals and three game losing streak for the team in general.
As the D-backs streak-snapping specialist, Greinke could have been a key contributor in helping the National League snap a six-game losing streak to the American League in the All-Star game.
The NL has lost each of the last six games despite playing five of those games in NL stadiums. Overall, the NL trails the AL in All-Star Game victories 43 to 44.
