NEW YORK — Pitchers Paul Skenes, Jacob Misiorowski and Max Meyer have been ruled out of the All-Star Game and were replaced by Riley O’Brien of St. Louis, Philadelphia’s Jesus Luzardo and Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft.
Also, Boston first baseman Willson Contreras was selected as a replacement for Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is opting to rest his ailing back during the break.
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When the Pirates’ Skenes, Milwaukee’s Misiorowski and Miami’s Meyer were selected for the National League All-Star team, they already were scheduled to start their teams’ final games before the break. That left all three hurlers likely unavailable to pitch in the All-Star Game on July 14.
O’Brien has 22 saves in 26 opportunities this season, striking out 35 in 36 1/3 innings with a 3.72 ERA.
Luzardo is 7-4 with a 3.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings. Ashcraft, in his second major league season, is 9-3 with a 3.24 ERA through 18 starts with 122 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings.
All three replacement pitchers are All-Stars for the first time.
Contreras, now a four-time All-Star, is on pace to have the most productive season of his 11-year career during his first season with the Red Sox.
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