Chris Sale only White Sox named to AL All-Star team

Chris Sale is an All-Star for the fifth consecutive year.

Now Sale (14-2, 2.93) will wait to see if he gets to start for the American League against the National League All-Stars next Tuesday.

Since become a starting pitcher after spending his first two seasons as a reliever, the White Sox ace left-hander has made the team every year. The 27-year-old major league leader in wins pitched in relief in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 All-Star Games but did not throw last year because he would have worked on two days rest after throwing 115 pitches against the Cubs the previous Saturday.

Sale, slated to make his last start before the All-Star break on Friday against the Atlanta Braves at U.S. Cellular field, will take a 15-2 record into the game if he gets the win. AL manager Ned Yost of the Kansas City Royals will name the starter Monday in San Diego.

“It’s just a nice little feather in your cap when you’re the guy that’s been tabbed, the guy that starts the game,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said, “so I hope he gets a chance to be that guy. To me, he’s earned it. He deserves it, and I hope he enjoys it if he gets that chance.”

Yost told ESPN he hasn’t decided who will start.

It was no surprise Sale was the only Sox named. When they bolted to a 23-10 start, left-hander Jose Quintana and right fielder Adam Eaton were building cases to be All-Stars, but Quintana (eighth in AL ERA at 3.06) won his first decision in 10 starts Sunday and Eaton — while leading the majors with 18 defensive runs saved and 11 outfield assists — is batting .274.

Sox third baseman Todd Frazier will defend his Home Run Derby title on Monday. Frazier won it last year as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.