Papelbon has best shot to be Phillies' All-Star
ATLANTA -- It is likely the Phillies will have only one representative on the National League All-Star team, and that announcement will come Monday night.
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon is a favorite for a spot. He has 14 saves this season on a team on pace for more than 100 losses, where save opportunities have been rare. Cole Hamels and Maikel Franco could receive some consideration, too.
Papelbon is 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 14 saves in 14 opportunities in 31 appearances. His ERA entering Sunday's 4-0, 10-inning victory over Atlanta ranked 21st out of 130 qualified relievers in baseball. His 4.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio tied for 27th and his 1.04 WHIP was 45th. Those numbers are why Papelbon figures to be the Phillies' lone representative for the NL All-Star team, although Hamels strengthened his case with seven scoreless innings Sunday.
Hamels is 5-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 17 starts. Franco has put up good numbers, but he got called up May 15, so he probably doesn't have enough plate appearances for serious consideration.
"Papelbon, probably," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said this weekend, when asked for the Phillies' most worthy All-star choice. "His save numbers aren't there, but when you look at the other numbers he's been very efficient. He's the first guy that comes to mind."
On Monday at 7 p.m. ET, the All-Star reserves, pitchers and Final Vote candidates will be announced on the Esurance All-Star Selection Show on ESPN. Immediately following the show, fans can return to MLB.com to begin voting to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each league until 4 p.m. ET on Friday, July 10.
And the voting doesn't end there. During the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (7 p.m. ET air time, 8:15 first pitch), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.