Happy Home Run Derby Day, everyone!

Although the All-Star festivities are in Dodgers Stadium this year, there will be no Los Angeles Dodgers represented in the Home Run Derby. That’s ok because the Dodgers really haven’t been a home run hitting team this season. Mookie Betts leads all Dodgers with 20 homers at the break, followed by Will Smith and Trea Turner who each have 14.

Dodgers fans in attendance will have two former Dodgers to cheer for, however. Both Albert Pujols and Corey Seager will be trying to topple Pete Alonso from his Home Run Derby winning throne.

However, Dodgers fans will have three players to cheer for as starters. Mookie Betts will bat second and start in right field, and Trea Turner will bat fifth and play shortstop.

And finally, Clayton Kershaw will start his first All-Star Game, on his home mound. This is Kershaw’s ninth All-Star appearance in his illustrious career.

Freddie Freeman said that he was in the training room on Sunday when Atlanta Braves and All-Star Game manager Brian Snitker called his cell, looking for Kershaw. Freeman then handed the phone to Kershaw, who received the news of his start.

The first matchup of the All-Star Game will be all Southern California- Shohei Ohtani will be the lead-off batter for the American League.

Six Dodgers will be a part of this year’s All Star team. Freeman will join Betts and Turner as a position players, and Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson join Kershaw as pitchers. Freeman and Anderson were added over the weekend replacing others who had bowed out.

Over the weekend, the news broke that All-Star Juan Soto would be made available for trade by the Washington Nationals. Earlier, Soto had turned down a reported 15-year, $440M extension offer. The Nationals then announced that he would be available for trade.

To acquire such a talent that is also so young would take the biggest trade offering of all of baseball history. Many have speculated it would take three to four high end prospects, plus a major leaguer or too. Many also think that if a trade happens, it will be in the off-season and not by this trade deadline. Time will tell where Soto ultimately ends up.

In non-All-Star news, Dustin May made his return to the mound in a game situation. He pitched for the Dodgers in Arizona at Camelback Ranch. May pitched two perfect innings, while striking out three. He needed only 13 pitches to get all six outs.

The Dodgers are committed to not rushing May back from his Tommy John Surgery. He is now on a five day schedule, and should pitch again on Thursday as he gradually builds his arm back up before he joins the Dodgers perhaps in September.