ST. PETERSBURG -- The sight was jarring and hilarious at the same time. Rays left-hander Blake Snell, at the urging of pitching cohort Chris Archer, donned a buffalo head as he stumped for the All-Star Game candidacy of catcher Wilson Ramos.
• VOTE: 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot
Ramos' nickname, after all, is "The Buffalo."
"I'm supporting 'The Buffalo' for the All-Star Game," said a straight-faced Snell about Ramos, who currently leads American League catchers in the fan voting. "One, he has a great nickname. Two, he's got some pop … and he runs a little bit for a catcher, although you don't always see it. Three, the way he calls a game, the way he gets in a rhythm. Overall, he's just a great pick."

Rays manager Kevin Cash said he believes Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA), the scheduled starter in Monday night's game against the Nationals at Tropicana Field, would also be an excellent choice.
Snell, though, wouldn't make a case for himself.
"That's for other people to decide," Snell said. "I'm not going to talk about myself."
Would an All-Star Game selection be meaningful for Snell?

"It would be special," Snell said. "I think to any player it would be special."
Ramos leads all AL catchers in batting average (.289), while adding nine home runs and 36 RBIs.
"I think Wilson should be recognized for the type of season he has had," said Cash, who also mentioned infielder Matt Duffy as an All-Star Game possibility. Duffy recorded an RBI double in the Rays' 7-6, 12-inning walk-off victory on Sunday.

"[Ramos] has done big things for us at the plate. He has done a good job navigating some young pitchers and unique pitching methods. We don't [win games] without some of his game-calling and building pitchers through some of those sticky situations." 
Cash also said Snell is very deserving.
"I think he has moved past the 'potential' word and shown the ability to be a dominant starter in the American League and the AL East," Cash said. "He has learned from the games he has struggled in. And he has shown the ability to be dominant."
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 11:59 p.m. ET. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, 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, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.
Robertson works in outfield
Infielder Daniel Robertson got some work in left field prior to the Yankees-Rays finale with balls being propelled from a pitching machine at home plate. Robertson, whose only outfield duty came in Spring Training, faced an array of bloopers, line drives and high fly balls (against the Trop's white roof). Cash said Robertson could start in the outfield on Monday night against the Nationals.

Infielder Joey Wendle started in left field against the Yankees. With a clogged-up infield and playing time at a premium, Cash said added versatility will help with the lineup's flexibility.
Gomez back in the lineup
Outfielder Carlos Gomez, thought to be tentative for Sunday with a sore wrist, was in the lineup at No. 5. He is batting just .203, but he went 2-for-4 on Sunday with two RBIs.

Cash said he likes what he has seen recently.
"Any time a guy is swinging the bat [well], you don't want him to miss time," Cash said. "He's feeling better at the plate. From Day 1, we've said he has shown the ability to get hot and carry a team. I'm not saying he's there right now, but he's trending in the right direction."