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Ace lefthanders faceoff in Chicago

Jul 2, 2007 - 1:23 PM Baltimore (35-46) at Chi White Sox (35-43) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - A pair of All-Star snubs will meet Monday when the Chicago White Sox host the Baltimore Orioles.

A crowded American League field and a couple of bad teams are the reasons that both Erik Bedard and Mark Buehrle will be watching the All-Star game from home next Tuesday.

Both the White Sox and Orioles are struggling through disappointing seasons and only received one bid each to the Midsummer Classic in San Francisco. Baltimore's Bedard leads the majors with 129 strikeouts this season and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last 11 starts, but will stay home in favor of teammate Brian Roberts.

Over that span, however, the 28-year-old lefthander is just 3-2. In eight of those starts, the Orioles' offense has managed three runs or less.

Bedard (6-4, 3.36 ERA) allowed just two hits last Wednesday, shutting out the New York Yankees over seven innings to earn just his third win sice April 18.

Buehrle (5-4, 3.33) has been on fire since being involved in trade rumors over the last few weeks. A free agent at season's end, the White Sox are attempting to sign their ace to a contract extension or trade him before the July 31 trading deadline.

The 28-year-old is 3-1 over his last four starts and has yielded a total of six earned runs.

Closer Bobby Jenks earned Chicago's lone bid to San Francisco.