Peavy Named NL Starter

San Diego Padres' ace Jake Peavy has been selected as the National League starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's 78th All-Star Game. St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa chose Peavy over the 10-1 Los Angeles Dodger Brad Penny (2.39 ERA & 82 strikeouts) and the National League ERA leader & Padre teamate Chris Young (8-3, 2.00 ERA & 99 strikeouts).

Peavy is currently 9-3 with a 2.19 ERA. He leads the National League with 125 strikeouts and is second in ERA. Peavy and Young represent a Padres pitching staff that leads the Major Leagues in team ERA (3.09) and shutouts (12). The 26 year-old right hander also leads the National League in strikeouts per nine innings (9.45) and WHIP (1.06) and leads the Majors in opponents' slugging percentage (.271). The 6'1" 180 pounder from Mobile, Alabama has only allowed three home runs this season, and has walked just 34 batters. Peavy is 66-48 in his six years as a Major Leaguer. He owns a 3.35 career ERA, with 975 strikeouts in 983 innings pitched (in 156 career games).

Peavy becomes only the third San Diego Padres pitcher to start an All-Star Game. He is the first Padre to earn the honor in 23 years, becoming the first since LaMarr Hoyt represented the brown, orange and gold in 1985. Former Padres lefty Randy Jones was the first to represent San Diego as an All-Star starting pitcher. Jones started for the National League in the 1976 All-Star Game, he was 22-14 that year with a 2.74 ERA with 25 complete games, en route to winning the Cy Young Award.