CHICAGO – Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese are headed to the All-Star game after fans voted them into Tuesday’s showcase in Kansas City.
Darvish, 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA, is the eighth Rangers player on the AL team managed by Texas’ Ron Washington. He beat out four other pitchers: Chicago’s Jake Peavy, Baltimore’s Jason Hammel, Kansas City’s Jonathan Broxton and the Angels’ Ernesto Frieri.
Freese emerged from an NL field that included Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn, Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper and Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill. Freese is batting .285 with 13 homers.
Around the leagues
San Francisco second baseman Freddy Sanchez will have back surgery and miss the entire season. … Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard (Achillies) could return this weekend. … Los Angeles Angels right-hander Dan Haren (back) was put on the disabled list and right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen was recalled. … Atlanta placed left-handed reliever Jonny Venters (left elbow) on the disabled list and recalled left-hander Luis Avilan from Triple-A. … Pittsburgh placed outfielder Alex Presley (concussion) on the disabled list and recalled Jordy Mercer from Triple-A.
