Walker Buehler, Justin Turner named National League All-Stars, Mookie Betts won’t play

A pair of Dodgers were added to the National League All-Star roster on Saturday, with pitcher Walker Buehler and third baseman Justin Turner named as replacements. Outfielder Mookie Betts, voted into the game by players as a reserve, will not play in the game.

Betts is officially listed by MLB as “out with an injury,” though none was specified. Betts this season has dealt with various nagging injuries, including back tightness, getting hit by a pitch on his forearm, shoulder soreness, and even an allergic reaction that affected his vision. But he’s also played the last 15 games for the Dodgers, starting 14, and is starting again on Saturday.

He’s using the four days in between Dodgers games to rest more than anything.

“There’s just no break in baseball. This is the only time I can really get a break of more than a day, so I just want to use it the best that I can,” Betts said. “I would love to be in the All-Star Game. But I think we all know the goal is to win a World Series, and I think this break will definitely help me to help us get to that point.”

Turner is hitting .302/.391/.490, sixth in the National League with a 146 wRC+. This year he has personal highs through 89 team games in home runs (14), RBI (45), runs scored (49), hits (90), and walks (39).

Turner finished second in fan voting to Nolan Arenado at third base. This is the second midsummer classic for Turner, who was an All-Star in 2017 as well.

“To be able to go represent the National League and represent the Dodgers is amazing, honestly,” Turner said. “You look at the history of this organization, all the great players that come through, to be able to wear a Dodger uniform and participate in the All-Star Game is something that’s pretty special.”

Buehler is 8-1 with a 2.49 ERA, including a 1.83 ERA in his last 10 outings. Buehler has lasted at least six innings in 16 of his 17 starts, tied for the most such starts in the majors this season. Buehler’s 6.37 innings per start ranks fifth in the majors. This is Buehler’s second All-Star game, having also pitched for the NL in 2019.

Four NL pitchers dropped out — Kevin Gausman and Brandon Woodruff because they are starting on Sunday; Jacob deGrom and Yu Darvish because of injuries. Other pitchers added to the NL roster are Max Scherzer, Freddy Peralta, and Taijuan Walker.

With Buster Posey on the injured list with a bruised bone in his thumb, he’s out of the All-Star Game, too. Because he was the fan-voted starter, the player vote determines the roster replacement. Yadier Molina of the Cardinals received the third-most votes at catcher in the NL, behing Posey and JT Realmuto. Realmuto will start in place of Posey behind the plate.

However, later on Saturday, Molina backed out of the game as well with. foot injury, and was replaced by Brewers catcher Omar Narvaez.