Hand not picky about when he pitches in ASG

SAN DIEGO -- Brad Hand doesn't care when he pitches on Tuesday night. He just wants to pitch.
The Padres closer is headed to Washington, D.C. for the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, his second consecutive Midsummer Classic, and he'll be looking for more success. A year ago, Hand pitched a perfect inning in Miami. He capped it by striking out eventual All-Star MVP Robinson Canó.
"It doesn't matter to me when I pitch," said Hand, who owns a 2.91 ERA in 40 appearances this year. "You're trying to compete and have some fun. The game doesn't matter, but you still want to do well. It's an opportunity to pitch against some good hitters and show 'em what you got."
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Hand pitched the seventh inning last year. He's probably bound for a similar role this time around.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is in charge of the National League squad. It's likely he uses his own Kenley Jansen as closer. Earlier this week, Roberts was asked how he plans to use Hand.
"I'm thinking three innings for Brad," Roberts said with a wry grin. "What a great competitor. It'll be great to have him on my side for a change."
Padres skipper Andy Green was informed of Roberts' joke.
"Three innings?" Green asked. "Might be the first time I've had to call him in a while."
In any case, here's how Hand matches up with the American League reserves, who he'll presumably be facing late in the game:
Michael Brantley: 0-for-1, K
Alex Bregman: never faced
Shin-Soo Choo: 1-for-2, HR, BB
Nelson Cruz: 0-for-1, BB
Mitch Haniger: 1-for-2
Francisco Lindor: 0-for-1, K
Jed Lowrie: never faced
Mitch Moreland: 0-for-2
Salvador Perez: 1-for-1, HR
Jean Segura: 0-for-3, BB
George Springer: never faced
While watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on Tuesday, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. PT on FOX will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.
Galvis dazzles
A day later, the Padres' clubhouse was still buzzing about Freddy Galvis' theatrics in the ninth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers. Galvis made a brilliant sliding stop on a Justin Turner ground ball, then spun from his knees and uncorked a perfect throw to first base, all in one motion.
"It defied physics," said right-hander Adam Cimber, who was on the mound at the time.

"He's made some other big plays in bigger circumstances, but that was, from a highlight-reel perspective, the best one," said Green.
Eric Hosmer, who was on the receiving end of Galvis' throw, has begun to expect the spectacular from Galvis. In fact, he plans for it.
"There are times where I've been late getting to a cutoff spot on a base hit with a guy on second, just because I think you can't ever count him out on any ground balls up the middle," Hosmer said.
Galvis acknowledged Thursday's play as one of his finest. But he played down the praise.
"It's nothing you can plan," Galvis said. "I just reacted. You let your ability just play by itself."
Mitchell takes the mound
Right-hander Bryan Mitchell threw 43 pitches from the Petco Park mound on Friday afternoon. He did so in a pair of simulated innings, in which hitters from both sides of the plate stood in the box, but didn't take any swings.
Mitchell hasn't pitched since June 5 because of a right elbow impingement. He said he felt good, and his next step will be a session against live hitters.
Jordan Lyles, meanwhile, gets to face live hitters Saturday prior to the Padres' game against the Cubs. If all goes well, Lyles (right-elbow inflammation) will make a rehab start next week.