Paul Goldschmidt named designated hitter in National League All-Star starting lineup

The National League on Monday announced its starting lineup for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt inserted as the designated hitter.

Goldschmidt was selected to the All-Star roster by commissioner selection, one of three first basemen for the National League. He is batting .281/.386/.534 with 21 home runs this season, which is remarkable considering he was jitting just .209/.326/.393 at the end of May. Goldschmidt has 14 home runs in his last 41 games.

“Goldy is a consummate professional. In the batters box he’s very dangerous,” said NL manager Dave Roberts, who faces Goldschmidt 19 times a year while managing the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Having a right-handed bat in the lineup against Chris Sale increases our chances a little bit. I just love what he does.”

While not quite as stacked as the American League lineup, the National League starting nine is solid from top to bottom. The lowest wRC+ in the NL lineup is 119 by Bryce Harper of the host Washington Nationals. It has been a struggle of late for Harper, hitting just .214 on the season, though with a .365 on-base percentage and .468 slugging percentage.

Harper, who ranks second in the NL with 23 home runs, starts in center field and bats sixth on Tuesday night.

There are three first-time All-Stars in the National League lineup, with 25-year-old Javier Baez and 26-year-old Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs batting and the top and bottom of the lineup, respectively. Nick Markakis of the Braves, hitting .323/.389/.488 at age 34, made his first All-Star team in his 13th major league season, and bats seventh in right field for the NL.

Matt Kemp is the redemption story in the National League lineup, making his first midsummer classic since 2012. Back with the Dodgers after three subpar years away, Kemp is hitting .310/.352/.522 with 15 home runs in a season that has people talking about his performance rather than the money remaining on his contract. He bats fifth and plays left field for the NL.