Sale, Scherzer rematch highlights All-Star Game starting lineups

For the second year in a row, Chris Sale of Boston and Max Scherzer of Washington will be the starting pitchers in the All-Star Game, the highlight of Monday's announcement of the starting lineups.

American League manager AJ Hinch of the Houston Astros selected Sale to start Tuesday's game. This will be the third consecutive start for left-hander, who joins Lefty Gomez (American League, 1933-35) and Robin Roberts (National League, 1953-55) as the only pitchers to start three All-Star games in a row.

Sale is 10-4 on the season with a 2.23 ERA. The 29-year-old has started 20 games and struck out a league-high 188 batters in 129 innings.

"Obviously, I appreciate it. It's a big honor," Sale told the media of earning another start. "I know this hasn't happened very often in a long time. I appreciate it. I'm going to try and have some fun with it. That's why we're all here, too. Grip and rip, and try to get a win."

Scherzer, 33, will start for the National League squad, managed by the Dodgers' Dave Roberts, in his home ballpark. The Nationals' right-hander is 12-5 in 20 starts on the year. His 182 strikeouts and 134 2/3 innings lead the NL.

He becomes the 12th pitcher to start an All-Star Game on his home field. The last one time that occurred was 2013, when former New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey started the game at Citi Field.

Scherzer's first pitch will be thrown to another Red Sox player, leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. A leading contender for AL MVP this season, Betts will be followed by the reigning AL MVP, Houston's Jose Altuve, and then the two other leading contenders for the award this year, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Boston teammate J.D. Martinez.

Sale will face Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez to lead off the NL first, followed by Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt, and Atlanta first baseman and NL MVP front-runner Freddie Freeman.

Goldschmidt also plays first base but will be the designated hitter Tuesday. Outfielder Bryce Harper of the host Nationals will bat sixth.

Hinch and Roberts also announced a pair of New York pitchers will come in after the starters: the Yankees' Luis Severino and the Mets' Jacob deGrom.

Here are the full lineups:

American League

1. Mookie Betts, RF, Boston

2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston

3. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles

4. J.D. Martinez, DH, Boston

5. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland

6. Aaron Judge, LF, New York

7. Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore

8. Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago

9. Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City

National League

1. Javier Baez, 2B, Chicago

2. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

3. Paul Goldschmidt, DH, Arizona

4. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta

5. Matt Kemp, LF, Los Angeles

6. Bryce Harper, CF, Washington

7. Nick Markakis, RF, Atlanta

8. Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco

9. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago

Game time is at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Coverage begins on FOX at 7:30 p.m.

--Field Level Media