Rays’ Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz battling for All-Star starting spots

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays’ Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena moved into position to advance to the runoff election for starting spots on the American League team for the July 11 All-Star Game.

Diaz is second among AL first basemen and Arozarena third among outfielders in the voting update released Tuesday.

The top two finishers at each position and top six outfielders when the first round of voting ends Thursday at noon advance to the second stage of balloting, which will determine the starting spots. That online voting runs Monday-June 29, with starters announced that night. Reserves and pitchers, mostly voted in by the players, will be announced July 2.

“It’s good to see that the fans are out there supporting me and giving me the votes for the All-Star Game,” Arozarena said via team interpreter Manny Navarro.

Given Arozarena’s performance for Team Mexico in this past spring’s World Baseball Classic, it would be logical to assume he is receiving voting support from his adopted country.

“Mexico, United States, Japan, I think all over the world they’re voting for me,” he said. “I think I’ve won them over with what I’ve done out in the field and the hard work that I do every day to be able to put that show out on the field.”

Diaz, through Navarro, said he never really thought about making an All-Star team, but “if I do end up going, that’ll be great because it’ll definitely show all the work I’ve been doing.”

In Tuesday’s update, Diaz had 1,124,166 votes, trailing the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1,195,052) and leading the Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo (512,833).

Arozarena had 1,116,525 votes, trailing the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (1,584,254) and Angels’ Mike Trout (1,174,001), and ahead of the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez (1,092,322) and Blue Jays’ Kevin Kiermaier (712,166) and George Springer (630,313).

Wander Franco dropped considerably back in the shortstop race, his 478,952 votes well behind the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette (1,561,426) and Rangers’ Corey Seager (827,499).

“I think Yandy, Wander, Randy, if they happen to get in there and get that vote, it’s very telling of the seasons that they’re having,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We could go down the list of many guys, but if those are the guys at the top of the votes, keep voting for them. They deserve it.”

If invited, Arozarena said he definitely would be interested in participating in the home run derby — which could be quite entertaining.

Lowe progresses, Siri sits again

• Second baseman Brandon Lowe had what he and Cash considered a big day Tuesday, doing on-field activities for the first time since a herniated disc forced him to the injured list in early June.

Lowe hit, threw, ran and took ground balls, and said he felt good afterward, though how he recovers on Wednesday will be just as telling. If all goes well, he could take swings off rehabbing pitchers Andrew Kittredge and Calvin Faucher Friday in Sarasota and start a rehab assignment next week.

Lowe said he has been feeling “great” and wants to play now but knows the athletic training staff is right in holding him back to be sure he will be able to stay on the field when he gets back. A return just before or after the July 10-13 All-Star break seems a reasonable goal at this point.

“I’d love to be back before the All-Star break,” he said, “but that’s not on me.”

• Centerfielder Jose Siri didn’t play Tuesday, the fourth game of the last six he missed due to right shoulder soreness stemming from a June 3 catch in Boston. Siri received a cortisone shot on Monday, and Cash said he could return to the lineup on Wednesday.

* Lefty Josh Fleming (left elbow inflammation) has started a throwing program and shown no symptoms but has several stages to go through.

Miscellany

Arozarena was hit by a Felix Bautista fastball to open the ninth, the 11th time he has been plunked, third-most in the majors. This time, he showed some anger, walking away from the plate and throwing his bad end over end. “Nobody likes to get hit,” he said. “That was a ball that was 100 mph to the ribs, and it hurt.” It did extend his home on-base streak to 29 games. ... The loss was just the Rays’ eighth at home (in 39 games) and first in a series opener at Tropicana Field. ... The Rays are offering special prices for five upcoming games, with $10 tickets and parking, some $5 concessions (beer, soda, water, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts), and 25% off select merchandise. .The game dates are Sunday (vs. Royals), July 5 (Phillies), July 20 (Orioles), July 25 (Marlins), Aug. 22 (Rockies). … The Aug. 1 game at the Yankees will be shown nationally by TBS.

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