2022 MLB All-Star Game: Best sights and sounds from Los Angeles
The 2022 MLB All-Star Game has officially gone Hollywood as Dodger Stadium hosts the biggest and brightest names in baseball.
It'll be familiar territory for Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who is just the sixth pitcher in the past 40 years to start the All-Star Game in his home park.
The Midsummer Classic has been one-sided in recent years, with the American League riding an eight-game winning streak.
The AL also has a three-game edge on the series' overall record of 46-43-2.
The National League has lost 20 of the past 24 All-Star Games, but hopes to get back in the win column in this year's 92nd edition of the midseason showdown with manager Brian Snitker of the defending champion Atlanta Braves.
In the opposing dugout, Dusty Baker, manager of the reigning AL champion Houston Astros, looks to keep the status quo.
Here are the best sights and sounds from Los Angeles, along with a few All-Star Game predictions from MLB experts Jeff Passan, Buster Olney, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield.
For the exceptional levels of big dad energy Clayton Kershaw exudes, rare is the opportunity at the baseball field to use it. That moment finally arrived at Tuesday's All-Star Game, when a 10-year-old boy named Blake Grice, part of the credentialed media, stepped toward Kershaw at the end of the press conference following his scoreless inning pitched.
"I want to tell you a quick little story," Blake said, and he proceeded to talk about his grandfather, Graham Grice, who put together a bucket list with Blake after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. One of those items: Meet Clayton Kershaw and Vin Scully, the legendary Dodgers announcer.
Graham died in 2014, and when Blake started tearing up, Kershaw stepped from behind the podium to comfort him. "Come here, dude," Kershaw said. "Great to meet you. Thanks for telling me. That took a lot of courage to tell me that. Your granddad sounded like an awesome guy."
Blake leaned in, wrapped his arms around Kershaw and hugged him. They took a picture together. On the night he started at his hometown stadium, Kershaw did not get the win. But when Blake's tears turned to a smile, it was clear that Kershaw had gotten the save. -- Jeff Passan