Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers named All-Star Game starters

For some reason unbeknownst to me, MLB decided the best time to reveal the All-Star starters was on a Thursday night during a full slate of games. Yours truly was unaware this was happening until it was too late, so we get a delayed post. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Red Sox did get two representatives who will be starting the game, which takes place on July 13.

It’s no major surprise, but both Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers are starting the All-Star Game, with the Red Sox taking full control of the left side of the American League’s infield. On the other side, it’ll be an all-Toronto right side with Marcus Semien and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the starts at second and first base, respectively.

As for the Red Sox starters, these were the two best options (in this writer’s biased opinion, anyway) at their respective positions, and that they play on a first-place team only solidified their standing. Bogaerts, who is second in the American League in fWAR, will be making his third All-Star appearance and second start. He beat out Bo Bichette and Carlos Correa in the voting. Devers, meanwhile, leads MLB in RBI and all AL third baseman in wRC+, and will be playing in his first All-Star Game. Alex Bregman and Yoán Moncada came in behind Devers in the voting.

Those will be the only two Red Sox starters, with J.D. Martinez and Alex Verdugo each failing to garner enough votes for the honor. The former was beat out by Shohei Ohtani while the top three vote-getters among AL outfielders were Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Teoscar Hernández. Trout will not be able to play due to injury, but Verdugo finished last among the finalists so it seems unlikely he’d take the place.

Both of them, along with some guys in the bullpen, have a chance to make the roster as a reserve. Those roster spots will be announced Sunday night.