"He's had an All-Star first half" - Dodgers skipper hopeful of seeing Gavin Stone at 2024 All-Star game after impressive opening half to season
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hopes that Gavin Stone will receive a late call-up for the 2024 MLB All-Star game. Roberts feels that Stone's performance over the first half of the season is deserving of an appearance in the Midsummer Classic.
Stone has been excellent on the mound for the Dodgers during his second season in the major leagues. The 25-year-old leads the team in wins, with a 9-2 record, while his 3.03 ERA is the lowest among the team's regular starting pitchers despite being the youngest member of the rotation. Last month, Stone pitched his first complete-game shutout, the only one that the Dodgers have had this year.
Roberts offered his views during a press conference on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the final encounter of a three-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“You never know with some guys who can’t pitch over the weekend, or in that game, hopefully there’s an opportunity for Gavin, because everyone knows he’s had an All-Star first half,” Roberts said.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have six players on the National League team, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freedie Freeman. The addition of Gavin Stone would tie it with the Philadelphia Phillies, who have seven players going to the All-Star game this year.
Gavin Stone has had a breakout 2024
Gavin Stone seems to have gone under the radar considering what he has delivered in the opening months of the season.
Stone has compiled 1.7 bWAR, the same figure as Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow, despite having two fewer starts. Incidentally, Glasnow was honored as an All-Star for the first time this year.
As things stand, Stone has the sixth-best ERA in the NL and is tied for fourth in wins. Moreover, he leads the league in win percentage and also has the lowest rate for home runs allowed per nine innings. All these figures are highly impressive for a young pitcher in his sophomore year at the MLB level.