Touch 'Em All: Slugging Desmond won't be an all-star

Ian Desmond withdrew from the All-Star Game on Saturday, saying he had a strained left oblique.

The Nationals' shortstop then slugged his 16th homer that night and came back to rip another one on Sunday.

Hey, nobody should have a problem with a guy wanting to rest an injury. And if he doesn't want to go to an increasingly meaningless game, why insist?

But it's one more indication that players simply don't give a hoot for what used to be the only all-star game in any sport that meant anything.

Maybe it's time to send this "classic" out to pasture.

On June 1 the Dodgers started a lineup that had sons of five former major-leaguers: Scott Van Slyke (son of Andy), Tony Gwynn Jr., Iván DeJesús Jr., Dee Gordon (son of Tom) and Jerry Hairston Jr.

Milwaukee pitcher Zack Greinke is going to enter the record books on Friday.

Greinke tossed just four pitches Saturday before he was ejected after spiking the ball following a close play at first base during a 6-3 loss at Houston. So the Brewers decided to give him the ball again on Sunday.

The righthander also is scheduled to start Milwaukee's first game after the break on Friday. That would make him the first pitcher to start three straight games in one season since Red Faber for the Chicago White Sox in 1917, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Cubs' Ryan Dempster came off the disabled list on Sunday and pitched five shutout innings before experiencing some tightness in his back. That stint extended his scoreless-innings streak to 27 - the longest for a Cubs starter since Ken Holtzman went 27 innings in 1971.

Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins' lone all-star, is recovering after undergoing arthroscopic right knee surgery. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Sunday's procedure to remove a loose body in the knee went well, but there is no timetable yet for Stanton's return.

The Pirates' 29-14 home record is the best in the majors.

A bullpen meltdown cost the Nationals (49-34) a chance to hit the all-star break with their best record since the team moved to Washington in 2005.

White Sox righthander Jake Peavy replaced Angels lefthander C.J. Wilson on the AL roster for Tuesday night's All-Star Game. Peavy, who lost to Texas Rangers rookie Yu Darvish in online voting for the final spot on the AL team, is 7-5 with a 2.85 ERA for the AL Central-leading Sox.

Designated hitter Billy Butler (.290, 16 HR, 52 RBIs) will be the Royals' only representative in Tuesday night's game, which is in Kansas City.