Devers leading at third base in AL MLB All-star voting
BOSTON — Rafael Devers could be the only Red Sox player in the starting lineup for the American League All-star team at Dodger Stadium on July 19.
MLB announced the first ballot update for the All-star Game on Tuesday and the Red Sox are struggling to get votes, though they have a couple of players in the running.
Devers (727,669 votes) is narrowly leading Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez (711,367) to get the starting nod at third base, while Xander Bogaerts is third at the shortstop position and J.D. Martinez is third at designated hitter.
Devers (4.1 WAR) and Ramirez (3.9 WAR) rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in Fangraphs’ WAR among all position players thus far. Devers is hitting .330 with a .990 OPS to go with 16 home runs and 43 RBIS, while Ramirez is hitting .305 with a 1.039 OPS, 16 homers and 62 RBIS.
The top two vote-getters at each position will make it to Phase 2 of the voting period to see who gets the starting nod. Phase 2 players will be announced on June 30. After Phase 2, the starters will be announced on July 8 on ESPN.
Yankees not slowing down: Cora was asked about the Yankees, who entered Tuesday 50-17 and are on pace to win 121 games.
“Well, last year we made it (over the Yankees) in the Wild Card and we got to October and were two wins away from making the World Series,” Cora said. “Yeah, they’re doing an outstanding job. They’re playing good baseball and we haven’t played them in a while. We have to take care of business. And actually today, we looked at the scoreboard and it looks better than yesterday.
“We just have to keep playing good baseball. When we play them, we’ll see where we’re at.”
Sale making progress: The Red Sox injury list should soon be getting shorter.
Chris Sale (stress fracture in rib cage) made his first rehab start in the Florida Complex League on Monday night, throwing one inning and allowing one run on a hit and a walk. He had one strikeout, whiffing the Rays’ Wander Franco, who is also on a rehab assignment.
Cora said Sale touched 96 mph with “a good slider, good changeup,” he said. “He decided that he was a little bit off as far as like command. But mechanically he felt good. Today, he moved around well. He’s ready for the next one.”
Sale will stay on a five-day starter schedule and pitch one more time in the Florida Complex League before he comes north to join one of the Sox’s affiliates in New England.
Nathan Eovaldi (hip strain), has been able to work out in the gym, but unable to throw. “We thought it was going to be quicker, but he hasn’t reacted the way we expected so we just have
to be patient,” Cora said.