Strong start has injured Alvarez still in ASG picture

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He hasn’t played a game in more than two weeks, but Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez’s strong start to the season didn’t go unnoticed by those voting for the All-Star Game. Alvarez was the only Astros player to advance to Phase 2 of the All-Star voting, which means he still has a shot to start the July 11 Midsummer Classic in Seattle.

Alvarez was leading the Major Leagues with 55 RBIs when he strained his right oblique swinging the bat June 8 in Toronto and was placed on the injured list. He’s at least a few weeks away from returning to the Astros, so it’s unlikely he would be available to play in the Midsummer Classic for the second year in a row if he is elected.

The second phase of voting, which begins at 11 a.m. CT Monday, features the top two vote-getters at each position and the top six outfielders in the AL based on vote totals from Phase 1, which ran from May 31-June 22. Fans can vote online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 Club web sites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App, through 11 a.m. CT Thursday. The winners will be announced on ESPN later that night.

Alvarez’s 1,453,698 votes ranked fourth among AL outfielders behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees (2,095,328), Mike Trout of the Angels (1,604,762) and Randy Arozarena of the Rays (1,564,098). Kevin Kiermaier of the Blue Jays (960,953) and Adolis García of the Rangers (880,711) are also finalists.

Alvarez and left-handed starter Framber Valdez could be the only All-Stars for the Astros, who will have manager Dusty Baker and his entire coaching staff guiding the AL after winning the World Series last year. The pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 23 for each side -- will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.

The Astros have had a bevy of players represent the AL in the All-Star Game in recent years. They had five players selected last year – Alvarez, Valdez, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Justin Verlander, though Altuve and Alvarez were injured and Verlander didn’t pitch.

The Astros had four players selected in 2021 (but all four opted not to attend the game) and had six All-Stars in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The last time the Astros had as few as two All-Stars was Altuve and reliever Will Harris in 2016.

Altuve missed the first 43 games of this season after fracturing his thumb in the World Baseball Classic.

Valdez is a shoo-in to be selected to his second All-Star team. The winning pitcher in last year’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Valdez is 7-5 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 15 starts, including 12 quality starts. He entered Thursday second in the AL in ERA.

Other Astros with a chance to be selected to the All-Star team are pitcher Cristian Javier, Tucker and infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubón.