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Sports

Sunday brings shakeup to All-Star rosters

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

New York, NY – Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann was one of seven replacement players added to the All-Star game on Sunday, with each the National League and American League squads adding several pitchers to bolster their respective bullpens.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mark Melancon and San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo will join McCann on the National League roster, while the American League added Baltimore Orioles starter Chris Tillman and the closers from the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals, Grant Balfour and Greg Holland.

On Sunday night, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Edward Mujica became the last player added the game, with the closer replacing teammate Adam Wainwright on the National League roster. He has 26 saves and a 2.20 ERA this season.

McCann and Melancon replace their injured teammates, with Braves first baseman and Final-Vote winner Freddie Freeman sidelined with a wrist injury and Pirates starter Jeff Locke dealing with low back tightness.

Romo was added to take the spot of Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann as he recovers from a neck injury.

McCann is an All-Star for the seventh time in his career. He ended the first half with a .291 batting average and 12 homers to go with 32 RBI.

Melancon finished with a 2-1 record and an NL-best 0.81 earned run average with two saves in 45 games this season. He's surrendered just 31 hits while striking out 46 over 44 1/3 frames.

Romo came into Sunday with 38 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings and is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 21 saves this season.

As for Tillman, he takes the spot of Detroit's Justin Verlander, who started for the Tigers Sunday against the Texas Rangers. Oakland's Bartolo Colon and Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma were also ineligible after making starts on Sunday, opening up spots for Balfour and Holland.

Tillman, 25, is 11-3 with a 3.95 ERA over 19 starts this season. He's the fifth Oriole to be sent to Tuesday's All-Star game, marking the franchise's most selections since 1997.

Balfour is the first Australian pitcher ever to be named to the Midsummer Classic and entered Sunday 25-for-25 in save opportunities, while converting 43 in a row dating back to last season.

The 27-year-old Holland has recorded 22 saves this season for the Royals. He's pitched to a 1.80 ERA and has fanned 60 batters in 35 innings of work.

Melancon, Romo, Tillman, Balfour and Holland are all first-time All-Stars, bringing this year's total to 38 newcomers, which eclipses the record total of 35 set at the 2011 All-Star Game in Arizona.