Rangers’ Hamels likely to be AL’s third pitcher

Texas Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels will likely be the third pitcher for the American League team Tuesday at the All-Star Game after Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox was selected Monday as the team’s starter.

Hamels had an outside chance at the start both because of his first-half performance (9-2, 3.21 ERA) and the fact that he was born and raised in San Diego. Sale is 14-3 with a 3.38 ERA.

“You’ve got to earn it, and I think that Chris has definitely earned it,” Hamels said. “It’s the results that we put up every day that really gets us here.”

Hamels, a four-time All-Star, said that he is just glad to be selected to play a game in his hometown and wasn’t expecting to be the starter or disappointed to find out that he wasn’t selected.

“This is a dream come true,” Hamels said. “If there was ever that opportunity to do it in your hometown, that was on my bucket list and that’s what I was gunning for. I wasn’t able to do it without my teammates. They’re the ones who put me in position to be here.”

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Rangers’ Hamels likely to be AL’s third pitcher."