Perhaps the only thing that can prevent Shea Langeliers from being the starting catcher for the American League All-Star Game are fans of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Otherwise, Langeliers is closing in on the coveted gig and he has one last voting period to state his case as the Athletics open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Langeliers and Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk are the two finalists for the AL catcher spot with final balloting slated from Monday through Thursday. Kirk has played in just 17 games due to a fractured left thumb, while Langeliers is batting .268 with 19 homers and 43 RBIs in 76 games.
But Toronto fans — with help from Canadians across the country — regularly vote for their beloved Blue Jays. Proof alone is Kirk rating as a finalist despite batting just .183 with two homers and seven RBIs.
Langeliers, 28, would like to be an All-Star for the first time in his career. The last Athletics catcher to start in the All-Star Game was Terry Steinbach in 1989.
“It’s really cool for me personally,” Langeliers said Sunday. “It’s kind of one of those full-circle moments. All the work you put in, everything that’s gotten me to this point all coming together. Any time you can get recognized to have a chance to be an All-Star, with it being in Philadelphia this year and the 250-year anniversary of the United States. I think that’s pretty awesome.”
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay figures Langeliers’ next step is starting the All-Star Game.
“He definitely deserves to be,” Kotsay said of Langeliers. “You look at the All-Star ballot, you look at the other catchers around the American League, I’d say he’s dominating the performance side of it. It’s nice that he’s getting recognized nationally.”
The A’s lost 4-1 to the host Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to drop two of three in the series.
The Dodgers lead the National League West and own the best record in the majors after winning five of their past six games.
Los Angeles took two of three from the second-place San Diego Padres to increase its division lead to 10 games. Mookie Betts had two hits and two RBIs in Sunday’s 4-2 triumph.
Betts has struggled offensively for most of the season but has recently stepped up his performance. The eight-time All-Star homered in three straight games prior to Sunday’s effort and his modest five-game hitting streak is his best of the season.
“It feels normal. Like I can go be a ballplayer again, my abilities show, I can change my approach during at-bats,” said Betts, who is batting .236 with 11 homers and 27 RBIs. “I’m not so upset about outs because I feel like I’m going about it the right way.”
The Dodgers plan to activate outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list after a month on the shelf.
A pair of left-handers will match up Monday as Eric Lauer (3-5, 4.87 ERA) starts for Los Angeles against rookie Gage Jump (3-1, 2.04) of the Athletics.
Lauer, 31, began the season with the Blue Jays. He is 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA in five appearances (four starts) since the Dodgers acquired him last month.
Lauer was the second pitcher used in last Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins and pitched six no-hit innings of relief to earn the victory.
Lauer beat the Athletics for Toronto on March 29 when he gave up two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two career starts against the A’s.
Jump, 23, will be making his seventh career start. He struck out a career-best nine in five scoreless innings in a no-decision against the host San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
