SAN DIEGO _ White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was named as the American League starter in Tuesday's All-Star Game, facing off against the National League's Johnny Cueto of the Giants.
American League manager Ned Yost said Sale was his choice to start last year's game, but the Sox did not want Sale to pitch because he'd thrown against the Cubs on the previous Saturday.
"I plan on just letting it eat for an inning, just getting after it," Sale said. "There are really no repercussions that come from this game other than just having fun and competing. That's all I'm really going to try and do ... I fully intend on going out there and giving it everything I've got for an inning or two, whatever it may be."
Yost said Sale will pitch one inning, while Jose Quintana is slated to pitch the fifth inning.
Sale leads all major league pitchers with 14 wins, and ranks third among AL pitchers with 123 strikeouts. He's been in a mini-slump since May 24, with a .556 ERA and 12 home runs served up in 56 2/3 innings, including three in five innings by the Braves in his last start.
With the game being played in San Diego, the tributes to former Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn will be going on throughout the next two days. Sale gave his own tribute to Gwynn on Monday.
"He actually made a very big impact on my life," he said. "I chewed tobacco from 2007 until the day he passed away. I remember seeing that and was so shocked. He was a larger than life person. He was an inspiration to the game for many, many people for a lot of different reasons. I quit that day and haven't touched it since, so in a sense I owe him a huge thank you, not only for myself but for my family. Hopefully I can maybe sway somebody in the right direction, as he did for me."
Sale credited the coaches and family who got him in this position.
"I've had a lot of good mentors and coaches along the way to get me to where I am," he said. "This wasn't me just figuring it out on my own. I've had a lot of people pushing me in the right direction, teammates and family and coaches. So I'm just very appreciative of all that have put me together to get me to this point today."
Cubs starter Jake Arrieta lost out to Cueto for the National League nod by manager Terry Collins.
Ben Zobrist will lead off for the National League, with Kris Bryant batting third, Anthony Rizzo sixth and Addison Russell ninth.
