ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are spending Friday and Saturday filling out player ballots for the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. While the fans pick the starting lineups, the players vote for nine reserves, five starting pitchers and three relievers.
Royals manager Ned Yost, who will manage the American League team, will select seven reserves and then one more player will be added through the Final Vote.
The Rangers were able to make one change on the players' ballot by adding outfielder Nomar Mazara and dropping Delino DeShields. They have four relievers on the players' ballot in Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman, Shawn Tolleson and Tony Barnette along with starters Cole Hamels, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Martin Perez and Yu Darvish.
The Rangers went into Friday's game with the best record in the American League but with no chance of having a player being voted into the lineup by the fans. The leading candidates to be selected in the players' voting are outfielder Ian Desmond and Hamels.
Hamels, who is 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 15 starts, has been selected to the All-Star Game three times (2007 and 2011-12), but a fourth trip would be extra special this year since the game is being held in his hometown of San Diego.
Hamels could also be well-positioned to start the game if needed. Hamels, who held the Reds to one run over six innings in a 6-4 victory at Globe Life Park on Wednesday, will get five days' rest before starting again Tuesday in New York vs. the Yankees. If the Rangers' rotation isn't affected by weather, he would start Sunday in Minnesota and Friday before the All-Star break against the Twins in Arlington.
That would leave him well-rested to start in San Diego.
Kela throws bullpen
Pitcher Keone Kela threw off a full mound on Friday for the first time since going on the disabled list on April 20 with a right elbow impingement.
If all goes well, Kela could throw a simulated game on Wednesday in New York and then go on a medical rehabilitation assignment in the Minor Leagues. The possibility exists that he could be activated after the All-Star break.
"He has been doing really well," pitching coach Doug Brocail said. "We've had some almost full mounds and everything has been fine, including the breaking ball and changeup."
Rangers beat
• Catcher Robinson Chirinos was scratched from Friday's lineup with a sore right wrist. Chirinos got hit in the wrist on Saturday in St. Louis.
• With Colby Lewis on the disabled list, manager Jeff Banister said the Rangers haven't decided on who will start Monday. Left-hander Cesar Ramos is a candidate, but Banister said he will be available this weekend out of the bullpen.
• Kyle Lohse appears to be out as a candidate for Monday. He threw 101 pitches in a start on Thursday and would likely not be brought up on only three days' rest. He is 3-4 with a 5.52 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Round Rock.
• The Rangers agreed to terms with outfielder Marcus Mack, their 18th-round pick out of Houston Bellaire High. They have signed 33 of 40 Draft picks, including their top 24.
• The Yankees' rotation for their four-game series with the Rangers is lining up to be Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda.
• Rangers coach Bobby Jones was honored before Friday's game. A Bronze Star recipient during the Vietnam War, Jones is the Rangers' nominee for the 2016 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.