How Many All-Stars For Kansas City Royals?

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

It is very rare that a non-closer earns a bullpen spot in the All-Star Game. Wade Davis deserves it. But in the passed 10 seasons, 290 pitchers have been selected to an All-Star team, and only 15 of those have been a non-closing reliever.

The fact that MLB is trying to avoid the embarrassment of another tie, set-up men now have a better chance at making it. Aaron Crow did it as a rookie in 2011, and while Crow was good that season, that was more a product of the Royals needing a representative in the game rather than Crow earning it.

Davis has the numbers to warrant a selection. Batters are hitting only .122 off of him this season, and he’s struck out 56 batters in just 35.2 innings. He’s tied for the American League lead in holds with Joba Chamberlain with 15. The only earned run Davis has allowed since April 23 was when he hit Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis with a pitch last week with the bases loaded. Prior to that he had worked 24 consecutive scoreless innings.

It’s going to be tough for Davis to make the team. There are a handful of setup men in the American League that have been very good this season. Farrell, if he chooses to take one setup man for his team, will have to choose from Davis, Dellin Betances from the Yankees, Darren O’Day from Baltimore and Jake McGee from Tampa.

Davis’ odds: 10/1