Jered Weaver: Why He Deserves to Start for the AL in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game

With the upcoming MLB mid-summer classic on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about who will be starting for each team.

The offensive starters have already been named for both the AL and NL, but each squad's starting pitchers have yet to be determined.

For the American League, there are many worthy candidates that could begin the game on the rubber this Tuesday night.

Oakland lefty Gio Gonzalez, Boston righty Josh Beckett and Tampa Bay righty James Shields are three pitchers that could get the nod for the AL on Tuesday night.

However, Angels righty Jered Weaver and Tigers righty Justin Verlander project to be the front-runners to start at this point.

Weaver appears to have the best shot at starting right now, especially after the recent news that the Tigers will likely be starting Verlander on Sunday, which practically hands the reigns over to Weaver.

It will be hard to find a more deserving starting pitcher for the AL than Jered Weaver.

The 28-year-old righty has dominated opposing hitters all season long.

Opponents are hitting just .194 against him, which is good for fourth among AL starting pitchers.

As of Thursday, he is 10-4 with a 1.92 ERA, with an amazing 0.92 WHIP through 18 starts this season.

Weaver has also put together a K/BB ratio of just under 4-to-1 for the campaign.

The veteran right-hander is having the best season of his career, after coming off a '10 season where he had 13 wins and 233 strikeouts, while compiling a 3.01 ERA.

The Northridge, CA native is also a big reason why the Angels are sitting just one game behind first-place Texas in the AL West.

He has easily been the most consistent starting pitcher in the American League this season, and he deserves to be the league's starter next week in the All-Star game.