Betts, Trout finalists for All-Star picks

Mookie Betts and Trea Turner of the Dodgers and Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels were announced Thursday as finalists for starting spots in the AllStar Game, which will be played July 19 at Dodger Stadium.

Outfielders Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves received the most votes in their respective leagues during the first phase of voting to earn automatic starting berths in the game, which returns to Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1980.

The second phase of voting begins Tuesday and ends July 8. The top two vote-getters at each position from the first phase will compete for a starting assignment. Votes from the first phase do not carry over.

Betts and Trout received the most votes among outfielders in their leagues after Judge and Acuña. Betts is up against Joc Pederson (San Francisco Giants),

Starling Marte (New York Mets) and Adam Duvall (Braves) for two spots. Trout’s competitors are

George Springer (Toronto Blue Jays), Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees) and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Blue Jays).

Turner led NL shortstops in votes and will go against the Braves’ Dansby Swanson. Ohtani was second in AL voting at designated hitter to Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.

Etc.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford had his suspension stemming from last weekend’s brawl with the Angels reduced from five to four games . ... The Tampa Bay Rays put pitchers Brooks Raley and Ryan Thompson on the restricted list before opening a five-game series in Toronto. Canada requires individuals to have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose (or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) at least 14 days before entry. Unvaccinated players go on the restricted list because they’re not paid and don’t accrue service time.