The All-Star Game rosters dropped and as always there were some names left off that made you stop and squint at the screen. Some of these guys will get in as replacements, especially pitchers. That’s just how it works. Starters who throw on Sunday don’t pitch again Tuesday on two days’ rest for an exhibition game. So the official list isn’t exactly the final word. Still, the initial snubs tell you something about how the league sees certain players right now.
Wilson Contreras Keeps Raking, Still Not Picked
Contreras got squeezed out at first base in the American League. That’s a tough spot. The Red Sox have him at 20 home runs through 86 games with a .284/.378/.542 slash line. Those are legit numbers. But he’s competing against Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Nick Kurtz, Ben Rice, and Yandy Diaz. Guerrero probably won’t play anyway, but there are three other guys ahead of him on the depth chart right now. Contreras is having a big season on a team that hasn’t lived up to expectations. That shouldn’t matter for an individual honor, but sometimes it does.
Zack Wheeler’s Late Start Cost Him a Roster Spot
Wheeler missed the first chunk of the season with an injury. He’s only made 13 starts. But in those starts he’s got a 2.36 ERA with 84 strikeouts. The National League pitching pool is deep this year and the innings just aren’t there to justify a first-ballot nod. But don’t be surprised if he ends up pitching in the game anyway. Replacement rules will probably work in his favor.
Sonny Gray Has Been a Steady Force for Boston
Gray sitting at 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA across 16 starts and he’s not on the AL roster. That’s a tough beat. Wins aren’t everything anymore but when a guy is winning that often while pitching that well it’s hard to ignore. He’s given the Red Sox a chance to win almost every time he takes the mound. That counts for something. Like Wheeler, he’s a strong candidate to get added as a replacement.
Brice Turang Has Become a Quiet Star in Milwaukee
Turang finished 14th in MVP voting last year and still didn’t make the All-Star team. Same thing happened this year. His numbers are solid — .268 average, .820 OPS, 12 homers, 20 doubles, 13 steals. He plays multiple positions and plays them well. There’s a pattern here. The league might still be catching up to how good he actually is.
Logan Gilbert Is the Fifth Man Out
There were a lot of candidates for this last spot. Gilbert gets the nod because his numbers are quietly excellent. A 3.19 ERA with a 0.950 WHIP and 114 strikeouts over 18 starts. He gives the Mariners a chance every fifth day. Seattle has been up and down this season but Gilbert has been a consistent anchor in their rotation.
The replacements will start rolling in over the next few days. Some of these guys will get their call. Others will have to wait until next year.
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