Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw Named All-Stars Again

Matt Kemp won't be able to play next Tuesday in Kansas City, but he still made history on Sunday as he was voted to start in the outfield for the National League in the 2012 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Kemp will be joined in Kansas City by Clayton Kershaw, making his second straight All-Star appearance.

Kemp becomes the third Dodgers outfielder elected by fans to start the All-Star Game in successive seasons.

Fans elected the starting lineups from 1947-1957, and from 1970 to present, and Kemp joins Duke Snider (1954-1955) and Jimmy Wynn (1974-1975) as the only Dodgers outfielders voted by the fans to start in back-to-back years.

Kemp is the first Dodger to be elected to start in successive years since Mike Piazza started at catcher for the Dodgers from 1994-1997. Kershaw is the first Dodgers pitcher to make back-to-back All-Star Games since Brad Penny in 2006-2007.

Kershaw, who will start Sunday night against the Mets, is 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA this season, bidding for his fourth consecutive sub-3.00 ERA. Kershaw has 103 strikeouts and 27 walks in 108 13 innings this season.

Kemp is hitting .355/.444/.719 with 12 home runs in 36 games, but he has missed 43 of the last 45 games. The Dodgers are 20-23 without Kemp, including losing 11 of their last 12 and their last seven games, and just competed arguably the worst offensive month in L.A. Dodgers history.

Kemp, who will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, is expected to return to the Dodgers on July 13, their first game after the All-Star break. Kemp will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 9.