Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese are headed to the All-Star Game after fans voted them into Tuesday's showcase in Kansas City, Mo.
Darvish, 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA, is the eighth Ranger on the AL team managed by Texas' Ron Washington. He beat out four other pitchers: Chicago's Jake Peavy, Baltimore's Jason Hammel, Kansas City's Jonathan Broxton and the Angels' Ernesto Frieri.
Freese emerged from an NL field that included Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn, Nationals rookie Bryce Harper and Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill. Freese is batting .285 with 13 homers.
Atlanta's Chipper Jones had been in the running before he was named as an injury replacement for Matt Kemp.
GM: Howard could return this weekend
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Ryan Howard has been making progress in his rehabilitation for an Achillies injury, and the first baseman could return to the major leagues this weekend.
“He's getting close,” Amaro said Thursday.
Howard has participated in six rehab games with Single-A Lakewood and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was scheduled to play back-to-back games in the field for the first time beginning Thursday night.
Sidelined since being injured making the final out of the National League Division Series last year against St. Louis, Howard was hitting .471 (8 for 17) with two doubles, a homer and nine RBI in the minors.
Amaro also said right-hander Roy Halladay is going to have another bullpen session Saturday after throwing 56 pitches Tuesday.
Angels' Haren finally hits disabled list
Suffering from lower back stiffness, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Dan Haren is on the disabled list for the first time in his career.
The Angels made the move Thursday, two days after Haren acknowledged his back has been bothering him since spring training. Los Angeles recalled right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen.
Haren is 6-8 with a 4.86 ERA, and the three-time All-Star has struggled through most of his starts in an unusually rocky season. He gave up seven runs in 4 1⁄3 innings to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.
Around the majors
The Braves placed struggling reliever Jonny Venters on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left elbow. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he believes Venters needs to rest and can benefit from the mental break. Venters gave up his sixth homer of the season to Jeff Baker in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The lefty allowed three homers in 2010 and '11 combined. ... The Indians are commemorating the 65th anniversary of Larry Doby breaking the American League's color barrier by renaming a street in honor of the Hall of Famer. The team will unveil street signs on Larry Doby Way — formerly Eagle Ave. — which runs adjacent to Progressive Field, following Friday's game against Tampa Bay.
