The MLB All-Star Game is set for July 16 in Arlington and we can expect to see a franchise-record seven Philadelphia Phillies in this year's Midsummer Classic.
A couple of wonderful surprises were previously announced, with 3/4 of the National League starting infield made up of Philadelphia Phillies with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm voted as starters.
Bohm, who's making the first All-Star appearance of his major league career, was also announced as a participant in the Home Run Derby on July 15, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
4 Phillies pitchers named MLB All-Stars with 1 glaring omission
The All-Star Reserves were announced Sunday night on ESPN and the Phillies have four pitchers added to this year's roster. Starting pitchers Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suárez and relief pitchers Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman are the players who got their names called.
Zack Wheeler is having a bounce-back season. After 18 starts, Wheeler is 9-4 with a 2.74 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 111 2/3 innings. He once again looks like the dominant ace of the staff, which he has capitalized on since being given the Opening Day start. This is Wheeler's second All-Star nod.
First-time All-Star Ranger Suárez has certainly locked down his role in the starting rotation. Fans have seen winning baseball from the crafty lefty in the past, but his dominance with ground ball outs is better than anything he's done before. Suárez, in 18 starts, has a 10-3 record with a 2.58 ERA even after giving up 11 earned runs in his two previous starts. It just shows how elite he has been and will hopefully continue to be.
Matt Strahm inked a contract extension before the season and now has his first All-Star invitation. Strahm has returned the favor handsomely with 36 appearances, a 4-1 record and a 1.59 ERA. Strahm had a 21-scoreless appearance streak, just to add how miraculous he has been so far. Strahm has been a key piece for the Phillies and is trusted coming into innings with runners on base.
Jeff Hoffman, also a first-time All-Star, was a question mark coming into 2024, not for his ability, but where in the bullpen he'd fit. In 38 appearances, he has a 3-1 record with a minuscule 1.21 ERA. Hoffman also has eight saves to go along with his numbers. He's sporting an 11.33 K/9 during this run and has answered any questions the Phillies had. He has gracefully swapped the role as closer and setup man with José Alvarado and has been lights out at the back end of the bullpen.
Cristopher Sánchez left off the All-Star roster
Cristopher Sánchez, fresh off his own four-year extension, was the unfortunate Phillies pitcher left off the roster for this year's All-Star Game. In only his fourth big league season, Sánchez has propelled himself to among the best in the game.
He's proudly rocking a 2.96 ERA and a 6-4 record in 17 starts and has been nothing short of spectacular as the Phillies' fourth rotation man. He flies under the radar at times due to the top end of the rotation having such star power. Fans will miss him not being at the All-Star Game with all the emotion he plays with — which we saw when he threw his first complete-game shutout earlier this year.
Phillies fans feel plenty of pride in the turnaround in roster production and the overall view of the organization in 2024. The Phillies are viewed, rightfully so, as the juggernaut of the National League and fans can't wait to see how their stars show out come mid-July in Texas.