Tyson Ross Selected as Padres’ All-Star

Coming off of a masterful performance last Wednesday in which he shut out the Reds, Tyson Ross was selected on Sunday as the Padres’ lone representative in the All-Star Game. The starting pitcher has been the epitome of consistency this season for San Diego, but his results haven’t always been in the right-hander’s favor.

Headed into his scheduled start on Tuesday, Ross has a 2.93 ERA on the year to go with 111 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings. Add to that a strong 1.20 WHIP and Ross’ numbers are looking great, but he’s only 7-8 as his run support has been dismal.

Ross may not seem like a slam dunk selection to the All-Star Game, and many were surprised when he was selected over closer Huston Street, whose 23 saves with only one opportunity blown were key points in the argument for Street. Ross doesn’t get the accolades he deserves because of his record and his team’s record, but NL manager Mike Matheny didn’t overlook him on Sunday.

Actually, Ross’ numbers stack up to be better than a lot of elite pitchers in the NL. Only one pitcher has pitched seven innings in a game while allowing one run or less more times than Ross, the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, who has done it 11 times while Ross and two other pitchers (Felix Hernandez and Julio Teheran) have done it 8. All of those pitchers are All-Stars and Wainwright and Hernandez are staff aces, putting Ross’ numbers in perspective. His run support has been absent though, as the Pads have mustered just two runs or less in half of his 18 starts, only seven pitchers in the NL have had worse run support, including two of Ross’ teammates in San Diego.

Other candidates for the Padres’ bid to Minneapolis included Street, set-up man Joaquin Benoit and leadoff man Seth Smith, the latter of which has been the only productive member of the Padres’ offense.