Clayton Kershaw is MVP but not All-Star as he misses in final vote

Clayton Kershaw is the reigning most valuable player in the National League. He is the reigning Cy Young Award winner, as he has been for three of the last four seasons.

He pitches in the second-biggest media market for the team with the highest payroll and attendance. He is seventh in the National League in walks and hits per inning, third in innings pitched and first in strikeouts.

He is not an All-Star.

Kershaw finished third in the final fan vote for the game. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez earned the most votes in the NL. Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas won the final fan vote in the American League.

He could still make the team as a replacement if another player is injured or a pitcher is unavailable for Tuesday’s game.

The Dodgers’ social-media campaign had Kershaw carrying most of the West Coast and New England but few parts of the rest of the country.

He was probably hurt by a pedestrian 6-6 record and a bumpy start, when he racked up a 4.32 earned-run average and a 2-3 record in his first nine starts.

Since then, Kershaw has looked more like his old self. From May 26 on, he has a 1.53 ERA and 87 strikeouts in nine starts. His last start, on Wednesday, provided a convincing closing argument. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies that included 13 strikeouts.

Unsurprisingly, Kershaw received support from many of his teammates.

Catcher A.J. Ellis called him “the best pitcher on the planet.”

Right-hander Zack Greinke said he voted for Kershaw.

“His peripheral numbers are probably the best in the game,” Greinke said.

But support came from elsewhere too. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal wrote, “I’m not sure I want to live on a planet where Clayton Kershaw is not an All-Star.”

The last time a reigning most valuable player missed the All Star game was 2007. The player was a familiar one: Jimmy Rollins.

The National League lost that game, 4-3.

Twitter: @zhelfand