Cain gets start for NL, Chooch to catch Dickey

Tony La Russa caused a bit of a stir yesterday when he named Matt Cain the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Cain, who threw a perfect game last month, got the nod over Mets ace R.A. Dickey. The stats favor Dickey: Cain (9-3, 2.62 ERA) vs. Dickey (12-1, 2.40 ERA). However, it appears La Russa had concerns over Dickey’s signature knuckleball.

“There is an issue about catching him and what spot to use him,” Dickey told reporters last week. “His season has gotten everybody’s attention, including our staff’s, and we’re talking about the best way to just win the game with the personnel. And how we use Dickey will be a part of that.”

To that end, La Russa revealed that Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz will be the one to catch Dickey. The retired manager expects the battery to enter in the fifth or sixth inning. Ruiz has never caught a knuckleball in the majors.

Star Search

MLB’s All-Star Game will take place today (8 p.m., FOX) in Kansas City. Here’s the starting lineups:

National League

1. Carlos Gonzalez, DH

2. Melky Cabrera, CF

3. Ryan Braun, LF

4. Joey Votto, 1B

5. Carlos Beltran, RF

6. Buster Posey, C

7. Pablo Sandoval, 3B

8. Dan Uggla, 2B

9. Rafael Furcal, SS