Gerrit Cole vs. Zac Gallen: Breaking down the 2023 MLB All-Star Game starting pitcher matchup

The final pieces of the All-Star Game puzzle are in place.

The starting pitchers for the midsummer classic were revealed on Monday, with Yankees starter Gerrit Cole getting the ball for the American League and Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen chosen as the National League's starter.

Cole is in the midst of another tremendous season for the Yankees. He has overcome last season's home run issues, getting his HR rate to its lowest point since 2016, and Cole has served as a stabilizing force for a New York rotation that has been ravaged by injuries and uncharacteristic struggles from Luis Severino. 

Gallen is the NL Cy Young favorite entering the All-Star break. In a race that hasn't seen many pitchers gain traction, Gallen has been rock-solid for the contending Diamondbacks. He leads the NL in both FIP and WHIP through 19 starts.

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This will be the first All-Star Game start for both Cole and Gallen. As is the case most years, options were limited for the managers.

With Shane McClanahan on the IL, Framber Valdez recovering from an ankle sprain, and Shohei Ohtani bowing out as a pitcher due to a blister issue, Cole and Nathan Eovaldi were Dusty Baker's two primary options. In the NL, Clayton Kershaw's IL stint and Spencer Strider's decision not to pitch after starting over the weekend made Gallen, Marcus Stroman, and Justin Steele some of the top options for Rob Thomson.

Here's a closer look at how the starting pitching matchup for the MLB All-Star Game shakes out.

Gerrit Cole vs. Zac Gallen stats

Cole wasn't as consistent as the Yankees hoped he'd be last season, posting a 3.50 ERA and allowing an AL-worst 33 home runs, but he's been a model of stability in 2023.

With a 2.85 ERA and 148 ERA+, Cole has earned every bit of his hefty salary this season. Most importantly, the Yankees are 8-0 this year when Cole starts after a loss. At a disappointing 49-42, New York would almost certainly be in even worse shape if not for Cole's excellence. 

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Gallen has hit a few bumps after a dominant start to the season, but he remains the NL Cy Young frontrunner. The former Cardinals and Marlins prospect has built momentum after a scoreless streak that spanned more than 44 innings last season, leading the NL with a 2.77 FIP and 1.05 WHIP. 

Gallen's ERA, ERA+, and WHIP are worse than his 2022 marks, but that speaks to the league's uptick in offense as well as the NL's muddied Cy Young race.

The starting pitchers in each of the last two All-Star Games have only pitched one inning, so it figures to be a short night for both Cole and Gallen despite the honor.

 2023 MLB All-Star Game pitchers

Here is a closer look at the pitching staffs for both the AL and NL.

American League

* — Unavailable to pitch in All-Star Game

National League

* — Unavailable to pitch in All-Star Game