Talking about All-Star selections these days feels kind of weird, because it’s to the level where I’m not even sure the league cares that much (the players probably do, not the league), and the deluge of injury and “I-just-don’t-wanna-play” replacements makes the actual proceedings less like an All-Star Game and more like a WBC-but-with-even-less-commitment.
Anyway, though, preliminary All-Star selections were released this weekend, and the NL has 12 pitchers, of which three are relievers: Jhoan Duran,
Mason Miller, and Lee’s teammate, Raisel Iglesias. Here are Lee’s ranks among this quartet in various stats:
- ERA-: 4th
- FIP-: 3rd (Iglesias)
- xFIP-: 3rd (Iglesias)
- SIERA: 3rd (Iglesias)
- fWAR: 3rd (Iglesias)
- K%: 3rd (Iglesias)
- BB%: 1st
- WPA: 3rd (Iglesias)
- Shutdowns: 2nd (tied with Duran, above Iglesias)
- Meltdowns: 4th
Really, I guess I could’ve titled this post “Why is Raisel Iglesias an All-Star over Dylan Lee?”
In any case, Lee is literally fourth in MLB in reliever fWAR, and sixth in RA9-WAR. He’s outside the top 20 in WPA, but that’s because he’s outside the top 80 in average leverage at game entry, so… uh… hmmm.
Once the inevitable “I’m not gonna pitch” replacement train pulls out of the station, Lee should probably get a nod, unless the NL holds hard and fast to just the three relievers. And even then, he probably should’ve gotten Iglesias spot, right?
