Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano is heading to his second straight All-Star Game.
The right-hander was named on Sunday as a replacement for Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez for Tuesday’s showcase in Seattle.
Romano, 30, entered Sunday’s play with a 4-4 record, a league-leading 25 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 38 games. He has struck out 47 batters and walked 11 in 36 2/3 innings.
He joins fellow Blue Jays Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Whit Merrifield on the American League roster.
Valdez, 29, pitched six innings on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out six batters in Houston’s 3-2 win against the Seattle Mariners.
Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Sunday morning that Valdez will not pitch in the All-Star Game on two days’ rest, especially since he was scratched from a start earlier this month with a sprained ankle.
And Valdez said after Saturday night’s game that he didn’t want to pitch if he couldn’t start.
“I worked really hard to be able to start the All-Star Game. I led the league in ERA … and it would mean a lot to me,” he said, per MLB.com. “… I really want to pitch the first inning. If I don’t get the opportunity to do that, I probably wouldn’t pitch in this year’s All-Star Game.”
Valdez is 7-6 with a league-leading 2.51 ERA and one shutout in 17 starts this season. He has 116 strikeouts and 26 walks through 111 innings.
–Field Level Media