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          New York Mets

          Three Mets earn All-Star nods -- Yoenis Cespedes and, maybe, Thor to start

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterJul 5, 2016, 07:57 PM ET
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK -- The New York Mets are sending three players to next Tuesday’s All-Star Game in San Diego.

          Yoenis Cespedes will start in the National League outfield thanks to fan voting, while Noah Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia -- both first-timers -- were selected by fellow players.

          With the Mets the reigning pennant winners, Terry Collins will manage the NL squad and take along his entire staff.

          Syndergaard appears the front-runner to start the game for the NL on the mound, but that will not be announced until Monday. Collins recently also mentioned slumping Jake Arrieta as well as Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto as candidates, although Bumgarner is scheduled to pitch Sunday and won’t be available.

          "I'd be surprised if he's not out there," said ESPN analyst Fredi Gonzalez, the former Braves manager, about Syndergaard.

          Said Syndergaard about starting: "That would be a dream come true. I would be rather thankful for that. It would be really exciting."

          This marks the first time the Mets have sent at least three players to the All-Star Game since 2009, when David Wright, Francisco Rodriguez, Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran represented the organization in St. Louis.

          Cespedes entered Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins hitting .300 with 20 homers and 50 RBIs in 277 at-bats. He will start alongside five Cubs as well as Giants catcher Buster Posey and Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. Harper (2.87 million) edged Cespedes (2.82 million) for the most voters among NL outfielders. Cespedes, by the way, ruled out participating in the Home Run Derby.

          "I think any player who has the opportunity to represent an organization, it's an honor," Cespedes said through an interpreter.

          Syndergaard is 9-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts).

          Familia is 29-for-29 in save chances -- a franchise record for perfection to begin a season. He entered Tuesday having tossed 13 straight scoreless innings. Overall, Familia has converted 45 straight regular-season saves. That’s the longest streak in franchise history.

          The Mets had other deserving candidates, including Addison Reed, Bartolo Colon and Jacob deGrom.