NEW YORK -- Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who is managing the American League All-Star team, spoke Monday afternoon about his decision to choose Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman for his squad over the New York Yankees' Hiroki Kuroda.
Leyland, who announced his starting lineup Monday, said he had about five names he was considering to take the spot of Justin Verlander, who pitched Sunday and thus isn't available for Tuesday's game.
"I looked at it very thoroughly, and at the end of the day, I added Tillman because I just felt like ... I'd almost be embarrassed not to take a guy that's 11-3 to the All-Star Game," Leyland said. "I thought he deserved it. I think when you have 11 wins by the All-Star break, I think that's pretty hard to keep a guy off."
Tillman, a first-time All-Star, is 11-3 with a 3.95 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 111.2 innings.
Kuroda, who has never been an All-Star is 8-6 with a 2.65 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 118.2 innings. His ERA is second-best in the AL.