07/09/25 04:31:00
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07/09 16:29 CDT Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub as Tigers tie Dodgers
for most picks for Midsummer Classic
Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub as Tigers tie Dodgers for most picks
for Midsummer Classic
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for
having the most All-Stars, too.
Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Pea,
who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join
Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders Javier Bez and Riley
Greene --- all AL starters --- and staff ace Tarik Skubal, who also is among
the candidates to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was picked Wednesday to replace
the Guardians' Jos Ramrez, who had been the starting third baseman. That
gives the Astros four All-Stars in Pea and pitchers Hunter Brown and Josh
Hader.
The Guardians said Ramrez wanted "to focus on recovery and preparation for the
second half of the season."
The five All-Stars for Detroit is tied for the most with the World Series
champion Dodgers, who have DH Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith and first
baseman Freddie Freeman starting for the NL along with pitcher Yoshinobu
Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is scheduled to start Sunday for Los Angeles, so Reds left-hander
Andrew Abbott has been picked to replace him.
McKinstry and Paredes make four total replacements and 69 players between the
two All-Star teams. The other substitution was Rays third baseman Junior
Caminero for Boston's Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right
quadriceps.
The Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the first half of the
season. After going 86-76 and tying for second in the AL Central last season, 6
1/2 games behind the division-winning Guardians, they were off to a 59-34 start
heading into Wednesday night's series finale against Tampa Bay --- three games
ahead of the Dodgers for the best record in the majors.
The versatile McKinstry has been a big reason why.
Along with playing every infield position besides catcher, and both corner
outfield spots, McKinstry entered Wednesday hitting .283 with seven homers and
27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more homers and nine RBIs to set
career highs.
Pea, who is hitting a career-best .322 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 82 games
for the Astros, has been out since June 28 with a fractured rib. He had hoped
to return by the All-Star break, but has not been cleared to resume baseball
activity.
Paredes, his teammate, is headed to his second straight All-Star Game in his
first season in Houston. He's hitting a career-best .255 with 19 homers and 49
RBIs for the Astros, who have a comfortable lead over Seattle in the NL West.
Ramrez was hit by a pitch in a game against Toronto on June 26 and has
struggled at the plate ever since. But the seven-time All-Star was still
hitting .299 with 16 homers, 44 RBIs and 24 stolen bases through 87 games for
the Guardians.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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