MLB roundup: Darvish, Freese added to All-Star teams by fan vote
Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese were picked for the All-Star Game in the online Final Vote fan voting, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.
Darvish became the eighth member of the Rangers to be named to the All-Star team by beating out Chicago's Jake Peavy, Baltimore's Jason Hammel, Kansas City's Jonathan Broxton and Los Angeles' Ernesto Frieri to get the final American League spot.
Darvish is 10-5 record with a 3.59 ERA in 16 starts. A five-time All-Star while he played in Japan, Darvish signed a six-year contract worth $56 million with Texas in the offseason.
In the National League, Freese won out over 19-year-old Washington rookie Bryce Harper, Atlanta's Michael Bourn and Arizona's Aaron Hill. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones had been leading in the N.L. Final Vote, but he was chosen as an All-Star replacement for injured Matt Kemp earlier in the week, elevating Freese to the top spot.
Freese is batting .286 with 13 homers and 50 RBI in 75 games this season.
--- It's possible Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard could rejoin the team this weekend, although it is not a certainty.
"I guess it's possible," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday afternoon. "But we'll see how he feels the next day or so."
Howard, who had left Achilles surgery last fall, has played six games in rehab assignments with Class A Lakewood and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is hitting a combined .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, one home run, nine RBIs, three walks and three strikeouts.
He is scheduled to play in consecutive games at first base Thursday and Friday with Lehigh Valley.
---Carlos Lee made his debut with Miami on Thursday after being acquired on Wednesday from the Astros. He went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored while batting in the No. 3 spot in the Marlins' lineup.
--- Twins closer Matt Capps is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday, and he might make two rehab appearances next week if all goes well. Capps has been on the disabled list retroactive to June 24 with inflammation in his right shoulder.
Capps has a 3.42 ERA with 14 saves in 27 appearances this season.
----The Blue Jays promoted right-hander Sam Dyson from Double-A New Hampshire to fill the roster spot left when the team sent Scott Richmond to Triple-A Las Vegas.
