The last time the same team had a different pitcher start the All-Star Game in back-to-back years?
That would be 2012 and 2013, when Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer represented the Tigers as the American League starter in the Midsummer Classic.
If a Yankee were going to follow Gerrit Cole’s lead this year to start the July 16 game at Globe Life Field — after Cole started his first All-Star Game last summer in Seattle — the best bet would have been one of their former All-Stars: Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes or Marcus Stroman.
And yet, as All-Star Game fan voting opened this week (for position players, with pitchers being voted in by the players), Luis Gil was among the leading candidates to start the game for the American League — understanding that plenty can happen between now and then.
