Yu Darvish says he's probably "not worthy" of being an All-Star in his first season in the major leagues, despite his 10-4 record with the Texas Rangers.
The Japanese standout said Friday, two days before the All-Star teams will be announced, that he personally doesn't feel like he's an All-Star. And he says any talk of him starting for the American League squad is "totally out of context."
Darvish was a five-time All-Star and two-time Pacific League MVP over the past seven seasons in Japan. The Rangers paid more than $107 million to sign the 25-year-old right-hander last winter.
The Texas Rangers have placed right-hander Mark Lowe on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained muscle in his right side.
To take Lowe's place, the Rangers have recalled right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama from Triple-A Round Rock. Lowe's move is retroactive to June 26.
Lowe has a 2.30 ERA in 31 1-3 innings and 26 appearances out of the Texas bullpen this season. Tateyama was 1-0 with an 11.88 ERA in seven games with the Rangers before he was sent to Round Rock on June 16.