All-Star starters set, Yankees and Red Sox land in London

All-Star Reaction

The starters of the 2019 All-Star Game were announced on Thursday evening.

Diamondbacks clubhouse celebrates after Ketel Marte was named an All-Star starter for the first time.

Cubs superstar Javier Báez is the first player in history named to start the All-Star Game at shortstop and second base in consecutive years. He was grateful for the honor.

Willson Contreras, Báez’s teammate in Chicago, will join him on the roster for the National League. He’s the first Cubs catcher picked to start consecutive All-Star Games since Gabby Hartnett in 1936 and 1937.

The Twins congratulated their first time All-Star starter, Jorge Polanco.

London Landing

The Red Sox and Yankees are off to England for this weekend’s games in London. The Red Sox flew in style.

Not surprisingly, Aroldis Chapman‘s travel game was on point.

A few Yankees legends, including Mariano Rivera and Carlos Beltrán, made the trip as well.

How would you like to get a few lessons from the GOAT?

Pro Post of the Day

Marte thanked fans who voted him a starter in the All-Star Game for the first time.

Fan Post of the Day

Our friend Polo Ascencio, one of the Cardinals’ Spanish language broadcasters, got to meet the Stanley Cup.

OTD

2016 – Javier Báez hit a grand slam in the top of the 15th inning to give the Cubs a five-run lead in a game that saw Chicago use three pitchers – Travis Wood, Spencer Patton and Pedro Strop – in left field. Chicago won the game 7-2.

2012 – The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig to a seven-year, $42 million contract.

2011 – Jason Bay and Carlos Beltrán each hit a grand slam as the Mets beat the Tigers 14-3. New York’s National League club hadn’t hit a grand slam since Aug. 1, 2009 and had been out-slammed 18-0 during the drought.

2010 – In front of a crowd of more than 18,000 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Marlins defeated the Mets 10-3. Marlins manager Edwin Rodríguez became the first Puerto Rican manager in big league history the previous week.

2009 – A first and a 500th for Mariano Rivera. The Yankees closer earned a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to pick up his first career RBI and then completed his 500th career save, joining Trevor Hoffman as the only closers to reach that benchmark.

1995 – The Cubs traded catcher Rick Wilkins to the Astros for outfielder Luis Gonzalez and catcher Scott Servais.

Happy birthday!

Michael Feliz (b. 1993)
Richard Hidalgo (b. 1975)
Jose Flores (b. 1973)
Rafael Vásquez (b. 1958)

Featured Image: Minnesota Twins Instagram