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The Astros Three Biggest Snubs From the All-Star Game

Framber Valdez and Yordan Alvarez were the only two Astros named to the All-Star game. These three names had a good case.

By Alec Brown |
Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics
Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics / Michael Zagaris/GettyImages
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The Astros have racked up the All-Star nods over the last six years, consistently sending multiple players at a time to the game. This year, due in part to injury, only two Astros were named to the American League All-Star team: Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez.

Both were incredibly deserving. Beyond them, many Astros we typically affiliate with the All-Star game were left off--some due to injury and others due to under performing. Of the three biggest snubs, two of the three names weren't names that would rattle off the top of your head when you first think of the Astros roster, but they had compelling cases nonetheless.

Let's take a look at the three Astros that were All-Star Game snubs.

Hector Neris Should Be a No-Doubt All-Star

Making the All-Star game as a reliever is an incredibly difficult task. Making it if you aren't a closer is near impossible. Hector Neris did enough to accomplish the impossible.

The AL had three relievers named to their roster: Felix Bautista, Yennier Cano and Emmanuel Clase. Bautista is a no-doubter, possessing a 1.19 ERA and striking out an outrageous 18.2 per nine. His Orioles teammate, Cano, also should be there. He's a great story, but more than that, he's got a 1.12 ERA.

Care to guess the only reliever with more than 30 innings to his name with an ERA lower than each of them? That would be Neris with a 1.07.

Yes, each team has to have a rep, one of the worst rules in sport's, but Emmanuel Clase making the roster with a 3.40 ERA, 8.4 strikeouts per nine and a league leading seven blown saves when Neris has the lowest relief ERA in the MLB and strikes out 9.9 per nine with a lower WHIP is a gross oversight. His strikeout numbers aren't as flashy as others, but he's got a compelling case as the best reliever in the game this year.

If you're the best at your position, you should be there.

Houston Astros v Texas Rangers
Houston Astros v Texas Rangers / Sam Hodde/GettyImages

Mauricio Dubón Had A Good Case, But Needed Help

Show of hands: who had Mauricio Dubón showing up as an All-Star game snub on your preseason bingo board? If your hand is in the air, you're either a liar or need to go buy some lottery tickets.

His numbers aren't flashy, but as crazy as this is to say, the Astros aren't competing with the Rangers for the AL West crown without their utility man.

Dubón brought stability at second base and in the leadoff spot while the Astros navigated the loss of Jose Altuve. Since Altuve has been back, he's picked up starts at 1B, SS and Left Field. He's been great at all of the spots.

He's hitting .288 with four bombs and 18 doubles, good for a 1.1 fWAR. He's right on the heels of Whit Merrifield's 1.3 fWAR. Merrifield was named an All-Star. Merrifield has less home runs, less doubles, a lower OPS, lower slugging percentage, and has been worth 0 defensive runs saved to Dubón's 7 defensive runs saved.

He's far from a household name, and he would have needed some breaks to go his way, but Mauricio Dubón built himself quite a good case. Based on who made the roster ahead of him, he very much got snubbed.

Houston Astros v St. Louis Cardinals
Houston Astros v St. Louis Cardinals / Scott Kane/GettyImages

Cristian Javier Would Have Made It Two Weeks Ago

If the All-Star rosters were announced two weeks ago, Cristian Javier would have been a lock. After his June 16th start against Washington, Javier was 7-1 with a 2.90 ERA.

Nine starters made the AL All-Star team: Framber Valdez, Sonny Gray, Shane McClanahan, Nathan Eovaldi, Gerrit Cole, Shohei Ohtani, Kevin Gausman, Luis Castillo and Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen was the Tigers' token representative. The other eight rank 1-8 in the AL ERA leaderboard.

Two weeks ago, Javier's 2.90 ERA would have ranked sixth. His 1.04 WHIP would have been tied for fifth best in the AL.

Then Javier's last two starts happened. In those two starts, Javier went a combined 6.1 innings, allowing 12 hits, six walks and 10 earned runs. His ERA has ballooned to 3.72 and his WHIP now sits at 1.17.

It's hard to call Javier a snub with the taste of his last two starts still fresh, but he was building a case as a surefire All-Star before two blow-up starts back-to-back. Hopefully Javier can use the break to rest and reset in order to put together a strong second half.

Javier should have many more chances to crack an AL All-Star roster.

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