Nevin: Estévez, Drury have strong All-Star cases

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger's Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- The Angels found out they had another All-Star on Sunday, but it wasn’t another player joining superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

It was simply Ohtani being voted in as a starting pitcher by the players, making him an All-Star as a designated hitter and a pitcher for the third straight year. It is another incredible honor for Ohtani, but the Angels were hopeful they’d have more All-Stars announced on Sunday. Closer Carlos Estévez and infielder Brandon Drury were both left off the American League squad.

Manager Phil Nevin thought both Estévez and Drury had strong cases to be All-Stars for the first time, especially Estévez.

Estévez has a 1.85 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 34 innings and is 21-for-21 in save opportunities. Drury wouldn’t have been eligible to play after being placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder contusion on Sunday, but he has hit .277/.322/.500 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in 75 games. His .822 OPS leads AL second basemen, and his 1.7 fWAR ranks second among AL second basemen, behind Marcus Semien.

“I thought Dru was a long shot, but I thought he was deserving and the one that gets me is Este,” Nevin said. “That one is a tough one for me. As far as closers go, he’s third in the league in saves. He’s the only one who hasn’t blown one and has a sub-2.00 ERA. I’m not sure what it takes to be deserving.”

As Nevin noted, Estévez could be added to the All-Star team this week. Pitchers are often replaced due to injuries or if a starter pitches on the Sunday before the Midsummer Classic.

“It always happens where you see guys added throughout the week,” Nevin said. “Some guys can’t go, or pitchers can’t throw. These things can change throughout the week and hopefully he gets a chance to go. Whether you’re picked Sunday or picked during the week, it’s still a special time to go. So hopefully he gets that opportunity.”

Estévez, who picked up his 21st save in Sunday’s 5-2 win, admitted he was disappointed he wasn’t named an All-Star.

“It’s crazy, but it is what it is,” Estévez said. “I don’t know what else I have to do. I think I have a good case. But at the end of the day, we’re trying to get [to] the playoffs and win the whole thing. It’s not about me getting to the All-Star Game. I’m disappointed, of course, but it is what it is.”

Drury, who was signed to a two-year deal worth $17 million in December, was humble when talking about his season, and he said he expects to return from his injury in the first game after the All-Star break on July 14.

“It’s been decent after those first couple weeks, and I feel like it’s been pretty solid, overall,” Drury said. “And there’s a lot of season left, so I’m looking forward to that.”