SAN DIEGO — Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox leads all major league pitchers with 14 wins, and ranks third among AL pitchers with 123 strikeouts. So it was no surprise he was named the starting pitcher for the American League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

With the game being played in San Diego, the tributes to former Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn will be going on throughout the next two days. Sale, however, offered a very personal tribute to Gwynn on Monday.

“He actually made a very big impact on my life,” Sale said. “I chewed tobacco from 2007 until the day he passed away. I remember seeing that and was so shocked. He was a larger than life person. He was an inspiration to the game for many, many people for a lot of different reasons. I quit that day and haven’t touched it since, so in a sense I owe him a huge thank you, not only for myself but for my family..”

RED SOX: Closer Craig Kimbrel had successful surgery on his left knee Monday to repair a medial meniscus tear.

Kimbrel was injured during batting practice before a win Friday over Tampa Bay.

ANGELS: Slugger C.J. Cron is expected to be out for at least six weeks after surgery on his broken left hand.

RANGERS: Right-hander Yu Darvish was able to pitch without any hesitation in his second rehab start for Double-A Frisco. He could return to the Texas rotation for his next start.

The ace from Japan missed the 2015 season after Tommy John surgery. Darvish then made five rehab starts before returning to the Rangers on May 28, going 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in three starts before going back on the disabled list.

LONDON IS NOT calling for Major League Baseball next year. The players’ association says MLB has given up plans to play regular-season games in the British capital in 2017.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in January that his staff was working hard at playing in London, and MLB officials looked at the renovated Olympic Stadium as a possible venue.

“There was discussion about London early on,” union head Tony Clark said

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