It's not what the players in the Red Sox clubhouse were going out of their way to talk about following a 9-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday night at Fenway Park. But to say it wasn't on more than a few minds simply wouldn't be accurate.

The All-Star teams are to be announced Sunday at noon, and when it comes to figuring out exactly which Red Sox will be headed to Anaheim, there is some intrigue.

This season there isn't a single member of the Sox who came close to earning the votes necessary for a spot in the American League's starting lineup. Dustin Pedroia is the only member of the team in the top two at his position, with the injured second baseman, at last count, trailing Robinson Cano of the Yankees by almost 1.5 million votes.

Still, some Red Sox have earned the right at least to be considered for participation in the July 13 game at Angel Stadium. Here are the Sox' candidates and why they may, or may not, make it:

VIRTUAL LOCK

Jon Lester: The Red Sox' ace punctuated his first half with panache Saturday night, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. With the victory Lester becomes one of five AL pitchers to total 10 wins.

Lester's resume also includes the fact he is now second in the American League in strikeouts (118), passing Felx Hernandez, and fifth in ERA (2.86). He has also allowed just five home runs, the lowest among any of the hurlers vying for a spot on the All-Star team.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, Lester has never gone to an All-Star Game, as he pointed out following his latest masterpiece. (Lester was 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA last season, finishing the second half by going 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA.)

“If I end up going, that’s awesome," the lefty said. "I’ll be very excited. It’ll be an honor.”

A GOOD CHANCE

Clay Buchholz: The only thing that can get in the way of Buchholz' spot on the team is his health. It is still uncertain whether or not the righty will be making his next start on Monday, or even Tuesday, with Red Sox manager Terry Francona saying the pitcher's left hamstring would have to be 100 percent healed.

But hamstring or no hamstring, Buchholz belongs on the AL squad having joined Lester, David Price, Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia as the only American Leaguers with at least 10 wins. Also difficult to ignore is his 2.45 ERA, which is just slightly behind Price's 2.42.

Adrian Beltre: OK, Evan Longoria will get voted in. We get that. And Alex Rodriguez is a lock to slide in right behind his Tampa Bay counterpart. But after that, Beltre has made the argument for the third spot a no-brainer.

Beltre leads all AL third baseman in batting average (.346), home runs (12; Toronto's Jose Bautista -- who has 20 homers -- has played more games in right field than at third base), on-base percentage (.382), slugging percentage (.553) and hits (102). He is also just two RBI behind Longoria for the most among AL third baseman.

In reality, the real debate should be between Rodriguez and Michael Young, who leads the New York third baseman in batting average by 26 points, while residing just narrowly behind A-Rod in on-base and slugging percentage.

As for Beltre, he has never made an All-Star team, getting beaten out by Mike Lowell in 2004 despite hitting .315 with 22 homers in the first half. (Lowell hit 20 home runs with a .305 average, earning him a spot in the '04 game.)

ON THE FENCE

Kevin Youkilis: If only it wasn't for Paul Konerko.

Justin Morneau is most likely going to earn the right to start, having headed into the home stretch with a narrow lead over Mark Teixeira in the voting. And Miguel Cabrera's season is becoming MVP caliber (.337 average with 20 homers).

So, with the consistent excellence turned in by Youkilis he would figure to be a lock for the third spot, right? Look at the numbers: 15 homers, .297 average, .415 on-base percentage with a .549 slugging percentage. His OPS (.979) is fifth-overall in the American League.

But there is Konerko to consider.

The White Sox first baseman is first among AL players at his position in homers (20) and second in RBI (57), while also carrying a batting average hovering around .300 (.294).

Right now it is simply too close to call.

NOT QUITE ENOUGH

Jonathan Papelbon: When asked Saturday night if he feels he has had an All-Star first half, the closer's response was, "I do. I feel like that if you're on a winning team and you're up at the top of saves -- and that's what I have to do is go out and get saves -- I've given myself a shot."

He's correct, he has given himself a shot. When you've managed the second-most saves in the American League (19), that gets you firmly in the argument. What is going against Papelbon is his ERA, which stands at 3.71 thanks in large part to three appearances (one in New York, two in Colorado) which accounted for nine of the 14 earned runs Papelbon has surrendered this season.

"I think you take the guys that are having good seasons and you take the guys who are going to help you win the ballgame. More than ever, you take guys who try and keep a winning streak going and I feel like I can help in that equation, helping win a ballgame," Papelbon said. "If it happens obviously I'll be super excited, but if it doesn't I can't let it affect me and bring me down and I have to go out there and still continue to be successful the second half of the season. 

"As far as saves goes I'm up there where I should be and besides a couple of bumps in the road in Colorado I feel like for the most part of the year I've pitched well."

Papelbon's competition for the right to join the AL squad for a fifth-straight season is tough. Mariano Rivera and Jose Valverde, for instance, have one less saves than the Sox' closer, but their ERAs are both under 1.00 with just one blown save apiece.

David Ortiz: Ortiz is realistic. He understands how difficult it is to get more than the one designated hitter that is voted into the All-Star Game onto the AL team. And, with Texas' Vlad Guerrero running away with the voting, the likelihood of seeing his sixth All-Star appearance is probably out the window.

"The All-Star Game is not about the numbers anymore, it's about the votes," Ortiz said. "You talk about numbers, yes I should be in. Talk about votes, I don't know."

Ortiz has a point.

Among designated hitters (and not counting at-bats at other positions), Ortiz has the most home runs (16) and extra-base hits (33). He is tied for first in slugging percentage with Guerrero (.584), who has the slight edge in on-base percentage (.383-.380).

Regardless, the fact that Ortiz is in position to be considered for such a thing might be the best All-Star story of them all.