Astros' Keuchel excited about All-Star nod, interested in starting for AL
Houston Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel received the good news prior to his start Monday night in Cleveland: he'd been elected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. He'll join second baseman Jose Altuve as the two representatives that will take part in All-Star Week festivities on behalf of the first-place Astros.
The news hardly came as a surprise, considering Keuchel's mastery so far in 2015. He carried a 10-3 record and an AL-best 2.03 ERA into his start Monday - which he won, limiting the Indians to three runs in six innings.
As MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reported, manager A.J. Hinch called Keuchel earlier in the day to tell him the news, and he kept it to himself until after the game, when his teammates gave him a toast in the clubhouse.
Congrats to #Astros LHP @kidkeuchy, named to the AL All-Star Team! #ASG #GoBeardOrGoHome pic.twitter.com/azQOBdPRTb
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 6, 2015
Particularly noteworthy was the fact that Keuchel received 381 votes from his peers in the American League - more votes than any other pitcher in the entire league received.
Needless to say, Keuchel was moved by the gesture. As he told McTaggart, "I mean, I never expected this and it's not something I dwell on, but to be voted in by the players was a very special moment for me just because I battled some of those guys and they're very good players. For my peers to vote me in is a very special moment and something I'll never forget."
With the formality of being elected to the team out of the way, attention now turns to whether Keuchel will start the All-Star Game for the AL. To that end, Keuchel said he's interested in the role, but would be okay with another pitcher getting the call: "I'd like to, but nothing like I'm going to fret over. There's plenty of deserving candidates. I think there's guys a lot more nasty than I am. I'm just happy to be at the game and watch some of the best players in the world go at it."
Despite Keuchel's humble viewpoint, his manager took a more pointed stance when speaking with McTaggart: "I think Dallas is stating his own case. I don't think he needs any of my help. But Ned knows how I feel. There's multiple guys that have the qualifications to start. I just don't know that anybody's been better and I hope the consideration is strong because Dallas has certainly anchored everything that we're doing."
