Kyle Schwarber looks lined up for a bigger spotlight at the All-Star Game, and Shohei Ohtani’s absence is the reason why.
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Ohtani will not travel to the game, opening the door for Schwarber to move from expected backup to likely starter at designated hitter for the National League. Ohtani was set to be the starting DH, but the door is now wide open for the Phillies slugger.
For Philadelphia, it’s another sign of how much star power has fueled this first-half surge. The Phillies were once 10 games under .500, but they’ve climbed back over the mark and into the wild-card picture as the final series of the first half arrives against the Detroit Tigers. They’re also sending Bryce Harper and Schwarber to the Home Run Derby, even if Zack Wheeler remains surprisingly left off the team.
Schwarber has earned the chance. He’s putting together a massive season, hitting .254/.369/.571 with 32 home runs and 58 RBI.
He leads the majors in home runs and also in strikeouts, having gone down 140 times, but the overall production has still taken another step forward. His batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all up from last year, when he finished runner-up to Ohtani for NL MVP.
Ohtani’s status is tied to continued irritation in his left knee. The Dodgers said he will not make his scheduled start on the mound against the D-backs and will serve as the designated hitter for the rest of the weekend, with interventions to follow after the series.
That makes his absence a significant loss for the showcase, since the biggest name in the sport won’t be on the field. But it also gives Schwarber a deserved path to the starting role, and his season makes him a fitting choice for it.
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