CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood will sit out the All-Star Game because of a blister on his pitching hand.
National League All-Star manager Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies announced that Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Carlos Marmol will replace his teammate on the NL All-Star roster on Sunday.
"We have the opportunity to take six days to let it get better and not deal with it the rest of the year," Wood said Saturday. "It's a little bit disappointing."
Wood still plans to attend All-Star festivities at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
Marmol (2-3, 4.13 ERA, 3 saves) was picked because he was the relief pitcher with the highest vote on the player ballot. He is the only pitcher in the game who isn't a starter or a closer. He became the eighth Cubs player on the NL All-Star team.
Wood's blister is on his right index finger, leaving him unavailable Saturday during Chicago's 8-7, 11-inning victory over San Francisco. He pitched on Friday, closing out a 3-1 win over the Giants for his 24th save in 29 opportunities.
"Woody's got a blister and he's not going to pitch at all until after the break," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said after Saturday's game.
Wood made the All-Star team in 2003 as a starter. He said he can throw with his blister, but won't take any chances in New York on Tuesday -- especially with Piniella serving as one of the National League coaches.
Before this year, the most All-Stars for the Cubs was six in 1936 and 1988. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano (broken hand), who was voted to the NL starting lineup, will miss the game because of a broken hand.
The 1958 Yankees hold the record with nine players on an All-Star team.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.