ARLINGTON -- While Toronto lost an integral part of its rotation on Friday, the American League lost its All-Star Game starter.

Terry Francona, the American League manager at the 2005 Midsummer Classic, announced that Halladay would have occupied the mound at the beginning of the game.

"Halladay was going to be our starting pitcher," Francona said. "I can say that now. That's how much we think of Halladay. We [Boston] have seen too much of him [but] I'm sorry that happened to him. He was very deserving."

Halladay received more votes than any other AL pitcher in player voting. It would have been his third All-Star appearance in the last four years, with 2004 being the only exception. His All-Star roster spot was filled by Boston's Matt Clement.

Shea Hillenbrand will be the only Blue Jay at the All-Star Game. Going into Saturday's contest, the third baseman was batting .298 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He also hit a two-run home run in the first inning off All-Star pitcher Kenny Rogers.

Halladay, who will be on crutches for about a week and out four to six weeks with a fractured tibia, will not make the trip to Detroit but will stay in Toronto for the three-day break.

"Hopefully after a week I can start putting pressure on it and walking on it and after that, from what I hear, I'll do whatever I can tolerate," Halladay said.

Halladay exited in the third inning of Friday's contest after taking a Kevin Mench line drive off his left leg. He walked off the field under his own power and was taken to the Medical Center of Arlington for X-rays.

"We've been able to survive without some other guys when people went down," catcher Gregg Zaun said. "It's just been the personality of the team. It's the same as when people asked how you replace Carlos Delgado. The whole team does. We all pick it up a little bit. We're all just going to have to do it a little better. One guy isn't going to make the difference but everybody together is going to have to take their game a little bit higher."

Quotable: "On a personal note, I think we owe him something. We need to rally. We need to not go hide and quit. We need to have some more success on a more widespread level. I almost feel like we owe it to him to be in, at the least, the very same situation we're in right now when he gets back -- in a position to make a move." -- Zaun on Halladay

Young guns: With the injury to Halladay, Toronto's pitching staff was in need of fresh arms. Enter Justin Miller and Brandon League.

League was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse while Miller's contract was purchased from the same club. The two right-handers joined the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon. They will be available out of the bullpen and will likely see immediate time on the mound.

"They're both going to pitch out of the 'pen and see what happens from there," manager John Gibbons said. "We have two good arms, that's for sure."

Miller struggled with a right hamstring injury last year and tweaked it again about a month and a half into this season.

"I'm feeling good, kind of digging the relieving thing," Miller said. "Pick it up and try to run with it. I'm excited about getting in the routine and getting the chance to pitch."

The Blue Jays carried only 11 pitchers on their roster prior to Halladay's injury but optioned outfielder Gabe Gross to Syracuse to make room for a 12th. Gibbons has used at least five pitchers in three of the last four games.

Gibbons isn't sure about his starting rotation after the All-Star break but admitted that Pete Walker and Scott Downs could both be in the rotation. Walker has started two games this season while Downs made his first start Saturday.

Coming up: The Blue Jays will send Josh Towers (6-7, 4.33 ERA) to the mound for the final game before the three-day All-Star break. Towers broke a string of three consecutive losses with a win June 29 against Tampa Bay and took a no-decision in his last outing against Oakland.