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Rockies-Giants Preview

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Madison Bumgarner is expected to be named to the National League All-Star team when the rosters for next week's annual midseason classic are announced Tuesday.

Bumgarner is a strong candidate to make the team. He will take a 9-4 record and 2.20 ERA into Tuesday's matchup with the Colorado Rockies.

Then later in the day, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy is expected to announce why his ace left-hander won't be playing next Tuesday in San Diego.

Bochy hasn't disclosed his pitching plans for the club's three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday through Sunday that will take the Giants into the All-Star break.

One thing's for sure: Right-hander Albert Suarez won't be in the rotation.

Suarez, who has been serving as Matt Cain's injury replacement in the rotation, was demoted to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, an indication that either Cain will return from his strained right hamstring this week or the Giants will go with a four-man rotation through the weekend.

Cain's return isn't likely. Bochy has indicated he'd like to see the veteran take his regular spot in the rotation following the All-Star break.

Being that the Giants have a day off Thursday, a four-man rotation would put Bumgarner in line to pitch Sunday. That would make him ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game.

Bochy said many factors -- but not whether he makes the All-Star team -- will go into deciding if Bumgarner is called upon to start Sunday.

"Your priority is here," the veteran manager insisted. "You want these guys to have a chance to pitch in the (All-Star Game). But you're here to win and maybe win a championship.

"You can't change your rotation around so they can pitch in it."

The Rockies will counter with an All-Star candidate of their own Tuesday, right-hander Tyler Chatwood. He will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list in order to make the start.

Chatwood is 8-4 with a 3.15 ERA. Ten National Leaguers began play Monday with more wins, including Bumgarner and Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who is injured.

Interestingly, Chatwood also is scheduled to pitch Sunday when the Rockies, who have seven games this week, conclude the first half at home against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Colorado manager Walt Weiss has not announced what he would do if Chatwood were to get selected to the NL squad.

Weiss has other more immediate concerns. His club recorded only six hits against six Giants pitchers in a 3-1 loss Monday after having been held to a total of two runs in three straight defeats to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a series that ended Sunday.

"I thought our approach was better," Weiss said of his offense in Monday's opener in San Francisco. "We swung the bats better, but not well enough to put together a big inning."

The Rockies welcomed shortstop Trevor Story back into the starting lineup Monday, but it didn't help.

The rookie standout went 0-for-3, walking once and striking out for the 106th time this season.