Chicago Cubs: Wade Davis named to National League All-Star team

One year after holding all four starting infield spots, the Chicago Cubs had just one representative on the National League All-Star team in Wade Davis.

On Sunday night, Major League Baseball announced the 2017 All-Star Game rosters – and the Chicago Cubs featured just one name – and it wasn’t Anthony Rizzo or Kris Bryant. Only closer Wade Davis earned the honors, with Bryant holding out hope for the final roster spot in the Final Vote.

Davis, in his first season with Chicago, is 16-for-16 in save situations this year. He owns a 1.93 earned run average and impressive 4.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 29 games.

“He’s done a great job for us,” Maddon told MLB.com. “He deserves to go. There are other guys on the cusp who are deserving. If you look at the other guys, there’s no argument for me.”

The right-hander continues to provide stability at the back of the Cubs’ pen, along with hard-throwing Carl Edwards Jr. Despite having only the aforementioned 16 save opportunities, Davis has been invaluable to Chicago this season.

His future with the Cubs past 2017 remains to be seen. He could return on a new contract, but given Edwards’ emergence, I personally think he takes a lucrative deal elsewhere. Elite closers get top-dollar contracts and this team has more pressing long-term needs.

Bryant, meanwhile, fell to the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado in the voting. Which, despite what Rockies fans like to say, is a much closer statistical comparison than they’d like to think. Outside of runs batted in, the two phenoms are neck-and-neck in most measures.

Next: Schwarber hits four home runs in two days with Iowa

For the reigning NL MVP to make his third All-Star team in as many years, Cubs fans need to vote. They can visit MLB.com to cast their ballot for Bryant. And remember. #VoteBryant