Relievers are All-Star additions
Relievers Liam Hendriks of the Chicago White Sox, Jordan Romano of Toronto Blue Jays and
Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers were added to the All-Star Game rosters Sunday.
They replace pitchers Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros,
Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves after they made weekend starts. Hendriks gets a $15,000 bonus for his selection and Romano $10,000.
About one-sixth of the rosters have changed since the original 33man teams were announced on July 6 and July 8.
Four of 18 starters also have been replaced: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve by Cleveland Guardians shortstop Andrés Giménez, Miami Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr . by New York Mets second baseman
Jeff McNeil, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper by Atlanta catcher William Contreras and Angels superstar Mike Trout by center fielder Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.
Red Sox’s Sale breaks pinkie f inger
Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale suffered a broken pinkie finger on his pitching hand after being hit by a line drive against the Yankees in yet another setback in an injury-plagued year for the ace.
Sale screamed in pain after being struck by Aaron Hicks’ 106.7mph liner with two outs in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Sale immediately ran off the field, holding up his fractured hand. The seventime All-Star was hurt on the final day of play before the break.
“One look at this finger, I knew [it was broken] immediately,” Sale said. “That feeling of just that kind of cold water rushing through your body when something like that happens. As soon as I hit the ground, I looked down, the finger is gone.”
Boston manager Alex Cora didn’t rule out a return for Sale this season. Sale was to see a hand specialist in Boston.
The 33-year-old was making his second start since returning from a fractured rib suffered during the lockout while working out on his own.
“We really felt bad about it,” the Yankees’ Cole said. “It’s well documented how hard he works and what he’s had to overcome to put himself in this position.
“It’s a good thing he’s got the tenacity that he has to continue. He’s got all the high character qualities that you’re going to need to have to overcome something like this. It’s just so unfortunate that he didn’t even get a foothold before it happened.”
Sale, who is signed through 2024 in a five-year, $145-million deal, has thrown just 481⁄3 innings for the Red Sox since the end of the 2019 season.
Boston reliever Hirokazu Sawamura replaced Sale.
Etc.
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Harold Ramírez broke his thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Jordan Lyles of the Baltimore Orioles. Ramirez, who was batting .329 in 77 games, will be re-evaluated in two weeks . ... The finale of the series between the Guardians and Detroit Tigers was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 15.