Rizzo, Bryant heading to All-Star Game

Two of the most talked-about young players in baseball are Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and rookie third baseman Kris Bryant.

On Monday, they found out they're going to the All-Star Game together.

Neither player will start. Rizzo was selected by the players, and Bryant was a choice of National League manager Bruce Bochy of the Giants. The game is next Tuesday at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

For Rizzo, this is his second all-star appearance. He made the team last season.

"It's just awesome; it's a great honor," the 25-year-old said. "You grind for your team all year long. For the players to vote me in is very special."

Rizzo gets to bring a friend along in Bryant.

"It's amazing," he said. "Very deserving. He's come up with all the hype. All the pressure people try to put on him, he's never fazed, not one bit. He's very deserving. It's going to be unbelievable for him to experience. It's going to be an unbelievable experience for us together to experience. We're both looking forward to it."

Rizzo entered Monday night's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field with a line of .292/.405/.543 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI.

Bryant, 23, came up from Class AAA Iowa on April 17. Entering Monday, he led the Cubs with 49 RBI to go with a line of .279/.383/.485 and 12 home runs.

"Obviously, it's exciting, especially to be on a stage like this in Major League Baseball," he said. "I've been in some all-star games, but I don't think anything can compare to making the major-league all-star team. I try not to get too excited, but obviously, it's pretty cool."

It seemed pretty apparent Rizzo would make the team before the reserves were announced Monday evening. It seemed possible Bryant might make it and that pitcher Jake Arrieta also might be chosen, but that wasn't so.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon heaped praise on Rizzo.

"I just have been impressed with the whole body of work, really," Maddon said. "He does not give up at-bat. His ability to adjust in counts. His ability to hit better pitching. His ability to hit for average and power. His baserunning has really been taken to another level. He's done a great job on the bases.

"I've always known that he's a good defender. I'm getting to see that in person, whether it's just catching the ball. He's a very good thrower. He's kind of fearless on defense, which I love, too. He's a complete baseball player."

Beeler to start:

Right-hander Dallas Beeler will pitch the second game of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Cardinals, with Jake Arrieta going in Game 1.

Beeler will be recalled as the 26th man. The 26-year-old Beeler made 2 starts for the big club last year, going 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA. He had to work his way back from a spring shoulder ailment this year.

"I feel really good," he said. "It was a process, a long process. But everything's coming together very well, stuff-wise, and I feel I've hit my stride right now."

At Iowa, he was 1-5 with a 6.33 ERA.

Soriano a step closer:

Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano was scheduled to join the Cubs' Class AA Tennessee affiliate Monday to begin working his way back to the major leagues.

The Cubs signed the 35-year-old Soriano last month to a minor-league deal.

Soriano has 207 career saves in 13 years. He has worked as a closer, but the Cubs are well covered in that department, so when and if Soriano does come up, he'd be one piece in the pen.

Joe Maddon said the Cubs likely will treat Soriano's minor-league time as spring training, meaning he'd need about 7 or 8 appearances before he'd be ready to come up. He had been throwing in the Dominican Republic.