In all, 25 players were selected to the Midsummer Classic for the first time this year, and as we approach this year’s event, that total is likely to rise.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will commemorate the final All-Star Game of shortstop Derek Jeter by contributing to the Yankee captain’s charity during the Gillette Home Run Derby.

The 2014 All-Star Game isn’t just about Derek Jeter. It’s far larger than just one player, even one of the greatest of all-time. Jeter would be one of the first to say as much.

It’s long been speculated that Yoenis Cespedes would be invited back to the Home Run Derby to defend his 2013 title. The A’s slugger all but confirmed his participation on Sunday, and he may be bringing a friend along, too.

The AL and NL rosters for the July 15 Midsummer Classic were unveiled Sunday night, featuring 26 first-time All-Stars. Balloting for the final spot on both rosters — the Final Vote — has begun.

The Angels didn’t need an hour-long inning. They didn’t need any ninth-inning heroics. No dumping of Gatorade coolers. The Rally Monkey could’ve taken the day off. All they needed Sunday was Garrett Richards. After three straight comeback wins against the Astros, the Angels sealed a four-game series sweep with a breezy 6-1 victory, winning their 10th straight game at Angel Stadium — their longest home winning streak since 1996.

With home field in the World Series on the line, only one will emerge on top for 2014. And when the American League hosts the National League in the 85th edition of the All-Star Game on July 15, each league will have its, shall we say, stronger strengths that could be keys to victory.

Now we know the All-Stars, which means we also know the snubs, which means it’s time for fans to do some voting vigilantism, righting wrongs and fighting injustice and doing their part to properly legislate the Midsummer Classic makeup.

Tim Lincecum’s scoreless-innings streak ended at 23 innings Sunday, but he managed to pitch into the seventh inning and win his third start in a row as the Giants subdued the San Diego Padres, 5-3.

For the second time in four years, Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista is headed to the All-Star Game with the most fan votes of any player in the Major Leagues.

The bottom line is that it wouldn’t be fair for Jeff Samardzija, traded to the Athletics on Saturday after spending the entire season with the Cubs, to knock a deserving American League pitcher off the AL All-Star roster. And Samardzija can’t pitch for the National League, since Oakland, featuring the best record in the Major Leagues, has a vested interest in seeing the AL win and secure home-field advantage in the World Series.

Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park turned into the Jackie Bradley Jr. show. While the Red Sox took a 7-6 loss in 12 innings to the Orioles, Bradley saved two runs in the series finale, one with his arm and one with his glove.

They rose as Derek Jeter dug into the batter’s box in the ninth inning on Sunday at Target Field, saluting the Yankees captain’s career with a standing ovation as he prepared for his final regular season at-bat against a Twins pitcher. Now, Jeter knows for sure that he will be returning to Minnesota for a game that will be seen by a much larger audience.

Newcomer Jeff Samardzija stifled the Blue Jays as the A’s won, 4-2, on Sunday at the Coliseum to complete a four-game series sweep.

As usual, there were multiple names conspicuous in their absence from the rosters or the list of Final Vote candidates. We’ve compiled the best of the bunch here (and possibly even snubbed a few more guys along the way).

With the National League All-Star Game roster announced, manager Mike Matheny now gets to choose who will start the game on the mound for his team. Matheny has several worthy candidates, including one in his own clubhouse. That would be Adam Wainwright, a three-time All-Star who is the National League’s ERA leader.

Rarely used outfielder David Lough, a late-game defensive replacement who entered the game in the seventh inning, collected his first extra-base hit since June 7 and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning to give the Orioles a 7-6 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.