Nationals' All-Stars stump for Rendon to join them in Miami

Four of the Nationals' five representatives for next week's All-Star Game in Miami - everyone save for tonight's starting pitcher, Stephen Strasburg - met with the D.C. media this afternoon to discuss their selections. Near the end of the group interview, those chosen made sure to stump for a teammate they think is equally deserving of a trip to the Midsummer Classic.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon is on the outside looking in right now, a victim of a position flush with talent in the National League, plus the fact that his team already has five players going: pitchers Strasburg and Max Scherzer, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, second baseman Daniel Murphy and right fielder Bryce Harper.

"It's really hard for me to swallow that he's not up here at the table right now," said Scherzer, who was named National League Pitcher of the Month on Monday after posting a 0.99 ERA over five June starts. "I just think he's had that type of year. He's one of the best third basemen in the game - if not the best right now - so it's really hard for me to sit here and tell you that he doesn't deserve to go."

Zimmerman, Murphy and Harper will start for the NL next Tuesday in Miami, and Harper was the leading vote-getting in Major League Baseball. Since every team has to be represented at the All-Star Game, some deserving players are bound to be left off the rosters, even though they're expanded from the usual 25 players to 30.

Rendon is slashing .297/.399/.554 with 19 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs, totals Murphy said made him "an under-the-radar superstar."

"Do you go to FranGraphs at all? He's really, really good. ... FanGraphs, check it out," Murphy said, urging reporters to dig deep into the advanced statistical metrics for a true sense of Rendon's value.

Rendon and left-hander Gio Gonzlez were two notable omissions from the Nationals. Gonzalez, who is 7-3 with a 2.77 ERA, could still make the team if another starting pitcher who was chosen ahead of him is injured or starts Sunday, making him unavailable to pitch two days later.

But Rendon, who has never been to the All-Star Game, is part of the Final Vote, competing against four other players in an Internet vote to fill the final roster spot. Fans can vote for Rendon here before 4 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.

"He does everything," Scherzer said. "He does defense, offense, steals bases. I mean, I know we have these three guys on offense and that's what we all think about, but what Rendon's done for us and our ballclub, the runs he's driven in, those have been huge, huge runs."