"The Dodgers' Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw and the Angels' Jered Weaver and Howie Kendrick were selected Sunday for baseball's All-Star game July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

It is the second consecutive year that Weaver, the Angels' ace, has been chosen for the American League team. Kemp, Kershaw and Kendrick were selected as All-Stars for the first time.

If Weaver, a right-hander, and Kershaw, the Dodgers left-hander who leads the National League in strikeouts with 138, continue to pitch on their normal schedules, they would be in line to start in the All-Star game.

The starting pitchers will be named by NL Manager Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants and AL Manager Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers.

"I watched the [TV] show this morning with my parents, and to see your name called is definitely an honor and a privilege," said Weaver, who is 10-4 with a league-leading 1.92 earned-run average.

Kemp, a center fielder, will be one of the NL's starters after a late jump to third place among the league's outfielders in All-Star voting by fans.

"We have really great fans in L.A., so I wasn't too shocked they came through for me," Kemp said, adding that being chosen was "pretty overwhelming at the moment."

Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier was not selected despite a 30-game hitting streak this season. But Ethier still could make the NL team because he is one of five nominees whom fans can vote for to fill the final spot on the NL roster. Voting, which takes place at MLB.com, lasts until 1 p.m. PDT Thursday.

The other NL nominees are Colorado first baseman Todd Helton, Arizona right-hander Ian Kennedy, Washington first baseman Michael Morse and Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino. Nominees to fill the final AL All-Star roster spot are Kansas City outfielder Alex Gordon, Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones, White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez and Tampa Bay second baseman Ben Zobrist.

The selections of Kemp and Kendrick, a versatile infielder, marked notable comebacks for both players.

Kendrick had been a .300 hitter but struggled so badly early in 2009 that he was sent to the minor leagues for a few weeks. He came back strong and this season was batting .307 with eight home runs and 26 runs batted in at the start of Sunday's game against the Dodgers."