The Braves will have to content themselves with a still-impressive total of five all-stars at next Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Closer Billy Wagner finished a distant fourth in the “Final Vote” competition. Reds first baseman Joey Votto easily won the vote, which makes sense, since he has been one of the three best players in the NL so far and should have—by any measure—made the initial roster.
Wagner is 5-0 with 19 saves, a 1.27 ERA, and 55 strikeouts in 35 innings this season, his first with Atlanta. He has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season.