The 2016 MLB All Star selection show will be held tonight at 7PM on ESPN, and many are still wondering who will represent the Phillies after no player was voted in by the fans. Let’s see who the candidates are.
Maikel Franco
http://gty.im/483048224
The slugging third baseman had been in a slump for large part of May and June which resulted in his batting average dropping all the way down to .235, something no one expected after Franco hit .280 last season. Maikel has been hot as of late hitting .321 in his last 15 games, but in this last week he’s been even better hitting .414 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs, allowing his average to rise to .258. He does have 15 homers and 47 RBIs, but with the low average and being in the same league as MVP candidates Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado, who both play third, it may be hard for Franco to get in.
ASG Worthy?: No
The low average and low amount of doubles (12) to go along with 3 or 4 more deserving third basemen will keep Franco out of the mid Summer classic, at least for this year.
Odubel Herrera
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The former Rule 5 selection is having a fantastic season hitting .303 with 10 homers and 12 stolen bases and is also a league leader in walks with 43. Herrera has been a pleasant surprise this season, especially in April when he hit .313 and May when he hit .324. He’s slowed down as of late hitting only .276 in June. Herrera still isn’t the greatest of fielders as his 7 errors would show, but he has made strides defensively as well. The outfield is loaded in the National League with a Cubs’ duo of Fowler and Heyward and division rivals Harper and Cespedes plus the likes of Jay Bruce and Carlos Gonzalez, just to name a few.
ASG Worthy?: Yes
With a batting average of .303 and an OBP of .390, Herrera has the best shot of any Phillie to make the All Star game despite the level of competition he’s against.
Aaron Nola
http://gty.im/487322234
Some of you are probably surprised to see Nola’s name on this list, but up until 4 weeks ago, he was the leading all star candidate for the Phils. The 23 year old righty had been having a fantastic season with an ERA under 3.00 and a WHIP under 1.00, but then the young pitcher hit a road block. In his last 7 starts, Nola has an ERA of 8.70, and a WHIP of over 2.00, he’s allowed 29 runs in only 30 innings of work. This has raised his ERA to 4.69 and WHIP to 1.28 with a record of 5-8.
ASG Worthy?: No
He’s being skipped his next time through the rotation, I think that’s all you need to know.
Jerad Eickhoff
http://gty.im/544913844
Early on in the season many would not expect Eickhoff to be in this conversation, but he has turned his season around. After a rocky start to the season in which his record was 1-6 and his ERA was over 4.00, Eickhoff has turned his season around going 4-2 in his last 7 starts with an ERA of 2.25. For the season he is 6-9 with an ERA of 3.30 which leads the teams’ starters.
ASG Worthy?: Maybe
He’s been the Phillies best starter so far this season, but with a record of 6-9 and superior starting pitching through out the NL, it may be difficult for the 26 year old to get in, but it wouldn’t surprise me all that much.
Jeanmar Gomez
http://gty.im/483899312
The Phillies first year closer is having a great season converting 22 of 24 save opportunities and posting an ERA of 2.75. Gomez isn’t your typical lights out closer, but he finds ways to get the job done which showed when he consistently led the NL in saves through the early part of the season when the Phillies were winning. Gomez has been consistent all year and has even emerged as a trade candidate which would mean two things: 1- The Phillies closer would represent them in the All Star Game for the second straight year, 2- The Phillies only All star would be traded two weeks later for the second straight year.
ASG Worthy?: Yes
Any time you’re a league leader in saves, you should be considered for the All Star Game, but when you can do it on a team 8 games .500 that’s even more impressive. Jeanmar will be in some elite company with the likes of Kenley Jansen, Jeurys Familia, and Mark Melancon all projected to represent the NL this year.
The selection show can be seen on ESPN tonight starting at 7PM, we will bring coverage after the Phillies representative(s) is announced.
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