Another loss and All-Star talk

The Orioles have lost five games in a row and the finger remains pointed at the pitching.

Yovani Gallardo worked only four innings last night and threw 95 pitches. Odrisamer Despaigne took the loss after allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings.

A disputed balk call garnered much of the postgame attention, but the Orioles are putting themselves in harm's way. The starters aren't providing length and the bullpen is cracking under the weight of a heavier workload.

It isn't complicated. The Orioles' lead in the American League East is down to two games because the pitching is letting them down.

My flight home from San Diego is scheduled to land shortly before Major League Baseball announces the All-Star Game rosters, with room left for one player in each league to make it via the fan vote.

I'll remove my own kidney with a melon baller if Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo and Zach Britton don't make it. Machado has led the voting among third basemen since the beginning. Britton is 23-for-23 in save chances and owns a 0.80 ERA in 34 appearances. Trumbo leads the AL with 24 home runs and is third with 62 RBIs.

Trumbo also should be included in the Home Run Derby, allowing him to answer questions every single day about the risk of "ruining" his swing.

Matt Wieters has a real shot as a reserve catcher behind the Royals' Salvador Perez. Check the rest of the candidates. Wieters deserves his fourth selection and figures to get it, though I'm not willing to put my kidney on the line.

He isn't a lock, but he's darn close to one.

Reliever Brad Brach always flies under the radar, but there's a strong campaign in the Orioles' clubhouse to get him into the All-Star Game. What else does the guy have to do? He's 5-1 with a 1.01 ERA and 0.806 WHIP in 36 appearances over 44 2/3 innings. He's stranded 17 of 18 inherited runners.

Excluding Brach will be understood, given his lack of a defined role in the bullpen, but it also will be grossly unfair.

First baseman Chris Davis' .240 average and 113 strikeouts don't scream for his inclusion, but the 21 home runs and 56 RBIs make him a worthy inclusion along with the Royals' Eric Hosmer and the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera. He led AL first basemen in home runs and RBIs before last night, and the .350 on-base percentage earned him additional praise.

If everyone's been paying attention, they'll also know that he's playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at first, though it probably won't factor into the decision.

Not a lock, but I think he makes it. Reputation also comes into play.

I thought Chris Tillman had a legitimate shot, but his 5.19 ERA in six June starts didn't do him any favors. With so many other pitchers under consideration and every team needing a representative, he may get squeezed out, especially because Royals manager Ned Yost is going to reach his limit on Orioles.

Jonathan Schoop has earned a selection, but there are too many good second basemen, including Jose Altuve, Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano. Manager Buck Showalter noted the difficulty in picking one on his ballot, saying the position was loaded compared to the outfield and first base.

Schoop won't make it, but he deserves to be in San Diego next week.