The Detroit Tigers dominate MLB! In addition to having the best record in the league, they are now tied as the team with the most All-Stars.
McKinstry and Paredes Join Mid-Season Classic
Zach McKinstry was selected on Wednesday to replace Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who is recovering from a rib injury. McKinstry joins Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez and Riley Greene, all starters in the American League, and pitching staff ace Tarik Skubal.Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes of the Astros will replace José Ramírez, who was the starting third baseman for the Cleveland Guardians. This adds up to four All-Stars for the Astros, including Peña, Hunter Brown, and Josh Hader.Ramírez wants to focus on recovery and preparation for the second half of the season.Ramírez was hit by a pitch on June 26 and has struggled at the plate since then. The seven-time All-Star still maintained a batting average of .299 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 87 games for the Guardians.The five Detroit All-Stars tie with the World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who feature Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman as starters in the National League, along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto.Yamamoto is scheduled to pitch on Sunday for Los Angeles, so Andrew Abbott, Reds’ left-handed pitcher, will replace him.McKinstry and Paredes are two of the four replacements, totaling 69 players between the two All-Star teams. The other substitution was Junior Caminero, Rays’ third baseman, for Alex Bregman of Boston, who has a right quadriceps strain.The Tigers have been one of the surprises of the first half of the season. After finishing with an 86-76 record and tying for second place in the American League Central Division last season, they had a 59-34 record as of Tuesday, the best in the majors.In addition to playing all infield positions except catcher, and both outfield positions, McKinstry entered Wednesday batting .283 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more home runs and nine more RBIs to set career highs.Peña, who is batting .322, the best of his career, with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 82 games for the Astros, has been out since June 28 with a rib fracture. He was hoping to return for the All-Star break, but he has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.Paredes, his teammate, is heading to his second consecutive All-Star Game in his first season in Houston. He is batting .255, a career best, with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs for the Astros, who lead the American League West.
