Alvarez gives up All-Star spot due to injured hand
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is officially out of the All-Star Game.
Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez — a former Astro — has replaced Alvarez on the American League roster, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. Martinez finished third in player balloting behind Alvarez and starter Shohei Ohtani at DH.
The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list Sunday with what they described as “right hand inflammation.” Alvarez aggravated the hand during a game last month, but the injury got “progressively worse” after he returned, manager Dusty Baker said.
Alvarez flew back to Houston on Sunday to meet with team doctors, but it’s unclear what that determined. Baker maintained optimism Alvarez could return to the Astros for their doubleheader against the Yankees at Minute Maid Park on July 21.
Martinez has made five AllStar teams since the Astros released him in March 2014, one as a Tiger and four with the Red Sox.
All-Star Game duty unlikely for Verlander
Astros ace Justin Verlander will “probably not” appear in the All-Star Game next week, Baker said Tuesday, leaving the skipper with a difficult decision of whom to start for the American League.
Verlander is scheduled to start Houston’s game against the A’s on Saturday at Minute Maid Park, Baker said, making it impossible for him to appear in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday with any form of regular rest.
The caution the Astros have exercised with Verlander this season made it seem unlikely they’d risk anything for an exhibition game. The team has routinely given Verlander extra days of rest during his first season back from Tommy John surgery — including a full week between his past two starts.
If Verlander starts Saturday, he will do so on eight days of rest. Verlander boasts a 2.00 ERA in his first 1031⁄3 innings pitched
Baker’s decision on a starter might come down to Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan and Ohtani, the Angels’ two-way sensation.
McClanahan has the lowest ERA of any American League starter and is striking out 12.6 batters per nine across his first 1041⁄3 innings. Ohtani, meanwhile, has 46 strikeouts in his last 332⁄3 innings, a span during which he’s surrendered one earned run.
Ohtani will bring a 2.44 ERA into Wednesday’s start against the Astros. On Tuesday, Baker said he had not spoken to Ohtani or anyone else about possibly starting the All-Star Game.
Odds and ends
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