Houston Astros stars named All-Star starters

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will start for the American League in the July 16 All-Star Game, MLB announced Wednesday.

The nods were the result of the second phase of fan voting for the game, which will be played at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

Altuve beat out Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien for the starting job. Altuve had edged Semien in the first two votes released Monday and Tuesday. Voting ended at 11 a.m. Central time Wednesday.

This will be Altuve’s ninth All-Star appearance and sixth start. He missed last year’s game because he missed most of the first half of the season with an injury suffered in the World Baseball Classic.

Alvarez beat out Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn in a close vote to become designated hitter. Alvarez will replace Shohei Ohtani, who has been the starting designated hitter for the American League each of the last three seasons. Ohtani is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers and will start for the National League as a designated hitter.

Alvarez is playing in his third straight All-Star Game, but this will be his first start.

Outfielder Kyle Tucker wasn’t so lucky. One of four outfielders in Phase 2 voting, there were only two starting spots available after New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was the AL’s top vote-getter in Phase 1 voting and earned an automatic starting spot.

Judge’s teammate Juan Soto and Cleveland’s Steven Kwan earned the starting spots ahead of Baltimore’s Tucker and Anthony Santander.

Tucker is on the 10-day injured list but could still be selected as a replacement. He has made the All-Star Game each of the last two seasons.

The rest of the American League starting lineup includes Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman, Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez.

The National League starting infield will consist of Milwaukee catcher William Contreras, Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper, Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte, Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner and Philadelphia third baseman Alec Bohm. The outfielders are Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. of San Diego, and Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich.

The replacements and pitching staffs will be announced this weekend. These selections are based on player voting and MLB draft picks.

All-Star festivities kick off Friday, July 12, with the HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field. Saturday will feature the MLB Futures Game, featuring Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh. The MLB Draft begins Sunday, followed by the Home Run Derby on Monday and the All-Star Game on Tuesday.