Dodgers land five on MLB All-Star team

The Los Angeles Dodgers lad all Major League baseball teams with five players named to the All-MLB team, which was announced by Major League Baseball. The Dodgers players selected were pitchers Walker Buehler and Max Scherzer. Both Buehler and Scherzer made it to the MLB First Team.

Shortstop Trea Turner pitchers Julio Urias and Kenley Jansen were picked for the second team.

Scherzer receives his second career All-MLB selection after being named All-MLB First Team in 2019. The 37-year-old right-hander split the season between Washington and Los Angeles, going a combined 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA (49 ER/179.1 IP), recording 236 strikeouts against 36 walks in 30 starts.

He finished the season amongst the National League leaders in ERA (2^nd), wins (4^th), strikeouts (2^nd), batting average against (1^st, .185), WHIP (1^st, 0.86), FIP (3^rd, 2.62), strikeouts per 9 (2^nd, 11.91), SIERA (2^nd, 2.90) and winning percentage (3^rd, .789). He was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30 from the Washington Nationals along with Trea Turner and in 11 starts to finish the season with the Dodgers, he posted a 7-0 record with a 1.98 ERA (15 ER/68.1 IP) and 92 strikeouts.

The Dodgers went 11-0 in his starts and on Sept. 12 against San Diego, he became the 19^th player in Major League Baseball history to record his 3,000-strikeout with a strikeout of Eric Hosmer.

Buehler receives his first All-MLB honor after finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. The Kentucky native posted a 16-4 record with a 2.47 ERA (57 ER/207.2 IP) and 212 strikeouts in 33 starts for the Dodgers. He set career-highs in wins, innings, pitched, ERA, and winning percentage (.800), while recording his second 200+ strikeout season and being named to his second All-Star team (2019).

In his fifth season in the Major Leagues, he ranked amongst the National League leaders in wins (3^rd), ERA (2.47), strikeouts (7^th, 212), starts (T-1^st) and Opp. Avg (2^nd, .212). He was NL Pitcher of the Month in July after compiling a perfect 3-0 record with 38 strikeouts, nine walks and a 1.67 ERA over 32.1 innings pitched, while permitting 20 hits and not allowing a home run in his five July starts.

Turner finished the season as the National League batting champion (.328) and won the stolen base title as he earned his first All-MLB selection. In 148 games between Washington and Los Angeles, he batted .328 (195-for-595) with 34 doubles, 38 homers, 32 stolen bases and 77 RBI and became the first Dodger to win the batting title since Tommy Davis won back-to-back crowns in 1962 and 1963.

In addition to leading the league in batting average and stolen bases, the Florida resident led the league in hits (195), average vs. left-handed pitching (.392), multi-hit games (58), infield hits (33) and total bases (319). He was selected to his first Mid-Summer Classic in July and was the NL Player of the Week for the final week of the season after slashing .458/.480/.917 with three homers and nine RBI from Sept. 27 – Oct. 3.

Urías was the Major League’s first 20-game winner since Scherzer in 2016 and first Dodger to win 20 games since Clayton Kershaw went 21-3 in 2014. Urías made a career-high 32 starts in 2021, going 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 195 strikeouts against 38 walks and recording his first All-MLB selection.

He led the Major Leagues with a .870 winning percentage and became the fourth Mexican-born pitcher to win 20 games, joining Fernando Valenzuela (1986), Teddy Higuera (1986) and Esteban Loiaza (2003). The southpaw set career-highs in wins, ERA, winning percentage, strikeouts and WHIP (1.018) while finishing the second half of the season with a perfect 9-0 record and 2.04 ERA (18 ER/79.1 IP) and 76 strikeouts in 14 starts.

Jansen completed his 12^th season in Dodger Blue with a 4-4 record, a 2.22 ERA (17 ER/69.0 IP) and 38 saves in 69 games to garner his first All-MLB selection. The three-time All-Star finished tied with Liam Hendriks for second in the Major Leagues in saves, finishing one behind MLB leader Mark Melancon.

In his last 30 games, he finished the season 3-0 with 17 saves and a 1.17 ERA (4 ER/30.2 IP) with 42 strikeouts and recorded his 350^th career save on October 1^st against the Brewers, which is an ongoing Dodger record and ranks 13^th all-time in Major League Baseball history.

His accolades extend past the regular season, as he passed Brad Lidge (18) and became the National League postseason saves leader with his 19^th save in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves. His 19-career postseason saves rank second all-time behind Mariano Rivera (42).

Featured Image Caption: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer on the mound. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline