Former Tigers earn All-Star spots

This year’s Major League All-Star Game will have an Alex Box Stadium feel to it as two former LSU Tigers will be a part of this year’s Mid-Summer Classic.
National League manager Dave Roberts named Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies to his pitching staff for the game that will be played next Tuesday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Nola this season is touting an 11-2 record with a 2.41 earned run average for the team that sits tied with the Atlanta Braves for the top spot in the National League East as play began Monday. The 11 wins leads the Senior Circuit, and Nola is sixth in the league with his 116 strikeouts.
In the other dugout will be the starting third baseman for the Houston Astros. Alex Bregman was named as a reserve player for the American League All-Stars and will be backing up Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians.
“Thank y’all for the love and support all year long!! Accomplished a childhood dream of mine today!!! Very special!!!,” he tweeted Sunday evening after learning he made the team for the Junior Circuit.
Bregman is batting .284 for the Astros who are 3.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for first place in the American League West as play began Monday. He also has 17 home runs, 51 RBI and 29 doubles over the first half of the season.
Nola will join the National League All-Stars that will have a starting lineup dominated by players from the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. Three-time All-Star from the Braves Freddy Freeman will patrol first base, and teammate Nick Markakis will be making his All-Star Game debut in the outfield. He will be flanked by Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington National Bryce Harper.
From the Cubs are starting catcher Willson Contreras and starting second baseman Javier Baez. Rounding out the starting nine are Brandon Crawford and Nolan Arenado.
Besides Ramirez at the hot corner, the starting nine for the American League includes two players from the Boston Red Sox in outfielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez. Rounding out the starting nine are Wilson Ramos, Jose Abreu, Jose Altuve, Manny Machado, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge.