Shohei Ohtani to start as pitcher, bat leadoff in ASG

Los Angeles Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani will be the American League's starting pitcher and leadoff hitter in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Denver. Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer will provide the opposition at Coors Field for the National League. He will make his fourth start in the All-Star Game. Major League Baseball is tweaking the rules to allow Ohtani to remain in the game after he is done pitching. The only way the American League will lose the designated hitter position is if Ohtani -- or one of his replacements at DH -- were to play a position in the field other than pitcher. "This is what the fans want to see," said American League manager Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays. Ohtani, who is competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday, leads the majors in homers (33), extra-base hits (56), total bases (210) and slugging percentage (.698) this season. The first-time All-Star is also batting .279 with 70 RBIs, three shy of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero for the lead in the majors. Ohtani and Guerrero are the first two batters in the AL lineup, followed by Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, Blue Jays second baseman Marcus Semien, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Blue Jays left fielder Teoscar Hernandez and Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins. Ohtani owns a 4-1 record with a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts this season. He will become the sixth Angels pitcher to start an All-Star Game, joining Ken McBride (1963), Dean Chance (1964), Nolan Ryan (1979), Mark Langston (1993) and Jered Weaver (2011). Scherzer, 36, is 7-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 starts. San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will lead off for the National League. Los Angeles Dodgers star Max Muncy will bat second as the designated hitter, followed by St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker, Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds and second baseman Adam Frazier. --Field Level Media