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With time running out until MLB‘s non-waiver trade deadline, nearly half of the league is sandwiched together atop the standings.

Fourteen teams have accumulated at least 50 victories. Shortly before the non-waiver trade window shuts on Aug. 1, a clear line divides the contenders and pretenders. Given the parity at the top, every playoff hopeful can convince itself that one or two shrewd moves will catalyze a championship run.

Such a climate could create chaos over the next 10 days. Some of the most popular trade candidates remain on the rumor mill, even if all of them aren’t veterans on expiring contracts.

Their availability might be only for show, but let’s examine the latest buzz on some of baseball’s best players on the market.

Chris Archer

If there’s a player a small-market seller shouldn’t shop, it’s a 27-year-old ace, especially not when he’s on the books for a team-friendly contract through 2021. And especially not during a down year.

A year after registering a 3.23 ERA and 252 strikeouts for the Tampa Bay Rays, Chris Archer has posted an inflated 4.60 ERA in 2016. He’s on the hook for an MLB-worst 13 losses, only two of which qualified as quality starts.

It’s a poor time for Tampa Bay to move a struggling franchise centerpiece, but an anonymous team executive expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Dodgers would land him, per ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark:

Even if the Rays deal Archer, don’t expect them to sell low. Stark clarified their high asking price, which makes a move feel less certain than the previous source suggested:

Will the Dodgers pay up? Per Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, an executive said they “have almost no choice but to overpay for a controllable starter such as Archer or [Chris] Sale,” with ace Clayton Kershaw possibly needing surgery. Another source previously told Rosenthal the Chicago White Sox turned down a “king’s ransom” for their rotation anchor.

If motivated to stay in playoff contention without Kershaw, the Dodgers have a deep enough farm system for an aggressive move. Top pitching prospects Jose De Leon, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas could grab Tampa Bay’s attention. The crown jewel of their young talent, 19-year-old Julio Urias, would especially force the Rays to consider a blockbuster move.

Despite his 2016 struggles, Archer remains a top-shelf arm who has punched out 147 batters over 123.1 innings. Unless the Dodgers make a Godfather offer, he’ll stay put, with Matt Moore or Jake Odorizzi potentially moving instead.

Jonathan Lucroy

Milwaukee Brewers teammate Ryan Braun is a flashier household name, but Jonathan Lucroy stirs more excitement among contenders. The 30-year-old catcher is hitting .301/.357/.484 during a bounce-back year, and few peers garner more respect for their defensive work.

A $5.25 million club option for 2017—chump change for an elite two-way catcher—fortifies his trade value but allows Milwaukee the flexibility to stand pat if no offer whets its whistle. As a cheap upgrade for every team besides the San Francisco Giants, he’ll draw plenty of eager admirers before Aug. 1.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Cleveland Indians are one such suitor:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s Tom Haudricourt added that the two sides will expand those negotiations to include relievers: 

Contrary to Olney‘s tweet, Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes reported Michael Brantley’s latest setback won’t intensify Cleveland’s pursuit of offensive help. Yet it’s reasonable to expect the American League Central leaders to address the worst catching production in baseball. 

Yet Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball dampened the likelihood of a transaction. 

“While an Indians person confirmed they talked about Lucroy, that possibility was downplayed, which makes sense since the Indians probably want to save their bullets for pitching,” Heyman wrote.

The Indians boast one of baseball’s premier rotations, but their bullpen is a sore spot, aside from Dan Otero and closer Cody Allen. Baseball Prospectus gives them an 97.3 percent chance of making the playoffs, so they should give serious thought to obtaining Lucroy and bullpen help from Milwaukee.

Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick

Not every maneuver needs to set the baseball community ablaze. For teams needing an offensive boost in a corner-outfield slot, Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick represent sensible choices who shouldn’t command top-flight prospects in return.

Since they fit the same role, it’s natural for their markets to intertwine. According to Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi, a few teams are eyeing both sluggers:

Boasting a .528 slugging percentage and 19 homers, Bruce represents the grander offensive upgrade. A $13 million club option for next year also tacks on more future worth than Reddick‘s expiring contract. Yet any buyer must consider the defensive repercussions.

Because of his minus-12.3 ultimate zone rating, the worst mark of any outfielder, Bruce grades out as a replacement-level player despite his demonstrative power. The Dodgers might be desperate enough for the power, and the Cubs could mask his shortcomings with baseball’s best defense. Heyman tossed the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals into the mix as well.

Reddick is no defensive wizard, and he has delivered significantly less power, with six long balls for the Oakland Athletics. The 29-year-old also, however, wields a higher weighted runs created-plus mark (121) than the Cincinnati Reds bruiser (117) thanks to his keen batting eye.

Per the San Francisco Chronicle‘s John Shea, Reddick indicated he “would love to” remain in Oakland. 

“It’s kind of disheartening something hasn’t been worked out so far, and we’ve been four months into it. It is what it is,” he said.

Oakland has rarely shown loyalty to its tenured players, so expect Reddick to go when the last-place franchise unloads before the deadline. He’s a two-month rental who can help a handful of contenders.

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Contract information obtained from Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

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The usual MLB trade candidates typically follow a pattern. Veterans on cellar-dwelling franchises with contracts close to expiring dominate the pre-deadline rumor mill.

Yet as the August 1 non-waiver deadline approaches, the hot stove has expanded beyond the usual suspects to younger players on cost-effective deals. 

Disappointing performance has one fading, polarizing star suddenly perceived as an expendable commodity. There are few people more desired than a young, affordable pitcher, so one is drawing interest despite stinking his way to Triple-A.

Then there’s a premier young talent on a championship contender who could become a bargaining tool due to the team’s offensive surplus. Let’s take a look at three of the league’s latest trade rumors.

Yasiel Puig

Yasiel Puig‘s downfall continues. Hitting .256/.318/.376 with a career-worst 92 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), per FanGraphs, his production continues to decay. 

Since breaking out in a major way during his 2013 debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has posted a lower on-base percentage, slugging percentage and wRC+ in every following season. Also criticized for his off-field behavior, the 25-year-old has fallen from future superstar to a headache the Dodgers might eradicate.

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Los Angeles, “at the very least, is open to trading him.” Interestingly enough, a power-minded outfielder tops the team’s wish list along with a left-handed relief pitcher.

In 23 games since returning from a left hamstring strain on June 21, Puig is hitting .300 (24-for-80) with nine walks, matching his tally before landing on the disabled list. While his recent play is somewhat promising, his overall 6.2 walk percentage remains weak, and he only has five extra-base hits during those 94 plate appearances.

Rosenthal suggested the Dodgers might try to use his improved play to salvage trade value and move him before another setback. Needing power to fuel their playoff push, they should only move Puig if they’re leveraging his name value into a more productive outfielder.

Shelby Miller

How many capable starting pitchers get traded three times as a major leaguer before turning 26? It’s a feasible possibility for the struggling Shelby Miller.

The center of a head-scratching trade last winter, the righty has made the questionable deal even worse in hindsight. For the price of center fielder Ender Inciarte, top pitching prospect Aaron Blair and 2015 No. 1 draft pick Dansby Swanson, the Arizona Diamondbacks have received a 7.14 ERA from Miller, who was recently demoted to Triple-A.

“I’ve been struggling up here for a while,” Miller said last Thursday, per the Associated Press’ Bob Baum. “I’m surprised I stayed up here this long.”

Instead of seeing a troubled arm with a .909 opposing OPS and two quality starts in 14 tries, other teams detect a buy-low opportunity. Per Robert Murray of Today’s Knuckleball, the Dodgers and Miami Marlins have inquired about the laboring pitcher.

Miller holds a 3.64 career ERA, so prospective buyers are targeting a solid starter who would otherwise cost a fortune. Just ask Arizona, a team that would be lucky to receive one player on par with Swanson. 

Sources told Murray that the Diamondbacks are “not giving him away,” so look for him to work out whatever is ailing him in Arizona. They overpaid to get him, but selling him on the downswing would only compound their mistakes. Unless the Braves agree to trade back out of pity, their best bet is to ride out his troubles.

Jurickson Profar

It’s not quite a shocking development to see teams covet a 23-year-old infielder batting .316/.364/.451. 

According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Texas Rangers are fielding a “ton of calls” for Jurickson Profar, who has received limited playing time despite his stellar play:

All things considered, the Rangers would like to keep Profar. His versatility is an asset even though the Rangers haven’t fully exploited it yet. He could also end up as the starting shortstop next season with Elvis Andrus sliding into the utility role.

But right now clubs see he is getting limited playing time even though he can play all four infield positions. If they do trade him, the Rangers would prefer to get a young starting pitcher with as much upside potential as Profar and under their control for the next few years.

Baseball America‘s top-rated prospect in 2013, his road to the majors took longer than expected due to shoulder injuries wiping out most of the last two years. He’s back and playing a little of all four infield spots for Texas, but it hasn’t added up to regular reps. He might still be stuck in the minors if Rougned Odor didn’t punch Jose Bautista. 

Per Sullivan, the Tampa Bay Rays are one of the interested teams, and their array of young pitching makes them a natural trading partner for Texas. If the Rangers decide to keep Profar, they could instead offer slugging third baseman Joey Gallo or outfield prospect Lewis Brinson to attain Jake Odorizzi or Matt Moore.

Texas should instead find a way to feature Profar, even if it means sitting the highly compensated Prince Fielder.

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With less than two weeks until MLB‘s non-waiver trade deadline, everyone now knows the top candidates to move.

Ryan Braun, Carlos Gonzalez, Jonathan Lucroy, Rich Hill, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller will light the rumor mill on fire leading up to August 1. Some of those guys will stay put, and the ones who go will cost a pretty penny and some valuable prospects.

Not every contender has the deep pockets or trade capital to pull off the megadeal. Those teams must instead search for bargains among the mid-tier trade chips. If they’re lucky, perhaps they can successfully gamble on a struggling talent for cents on the dollar.

This isn’t a look at the top trade options, but instead the best potential values among players with a feasible chance of changing teams. The order considers age, contracts and the likely asking price along with the person’s current performance, so players are not ranked according to overall worth in a vacuum.

Nobody listed is the lone missing piece to a championship, but these guys can help without breaking the bank.

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At a previous time as recent as June, seeing these MLB players on the fantasy baseball waiver wire would have seemed ridiculous.

As the unofficial second half of the baseball season kicks into gear, ailing managers can locate relief from familiar options. A 2015 All-Star has resurfaced, as has a former saves leader and slugger pegged to go bonkers this season.

Last year’s best second-half add is available in more than half of Yahoo Sports leagues. With a clean bill of health, he could once again make an impact down the stretch.

One top prospect is waiting for the call to join the ruckus. Another who debuted four years ago finally has a chance to realize his star potential.

Then there are two second-year players who took drastic turns from studs to duds. Impatient gamers abandoned the young sophomores, but there’s plenty of time for both to find their footing and resume their journeys to stardom.

Here are this week’s top waiver-wire adds.

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You can’t predict baseball.

Well, not with that attitude.

MLB resumed action Friday, starting the unofficial second half to 2016. Sure, every team has played more than 81 games, but the four-day reprieve created the feel of a fresh beginning.

Of course, not everything went according to plan before the All-Star break. Michael Saunders (16) has more home runs than Jose Bautista (12), and Tanner Roark (3.01) owns a lower ERA than Max Scherzer (3.03). Bartolo Colon homered. And obviously everyone knew Odubel Herrera, Adam Duvall, Steven Wright, Brad Brach and Eduardo Nunez would earn All-Star bids.

More wild events will occur over the next few months. Role players will play like stars and vice versa. Maybe Colon will hit a triple.

Let’s not go down the wormhole of those bold predictions. Instead, let’s examine some plots with a well-written first act that will pay off down the stretch. From deadline deals to pennant races to award battles, the meaty storylines are just beginning to percolate.

With an interest in making reasonable claims, these prognostications won’t stray into postseason territory. Too many variables exist in a short series to guess how they will unfold in July.

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MLB will display a talent renaissance during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, which will be headlined by up-and-coming studs.

The Midsummer Classic starters aren’t much older than Sunday’s MLB Futures Game participants. In fact, 23-year-old Bryce Harper is younger than 10 of those minor league stars who were fighting to sit at the big kids’ table.

Outside of elder statesman David Ortiz, every American League starter is 27 or younger. In all, 14 of the 20 starters are no older than 26.

Instead of honoring popular veterans well past their primes—congratulations on tying the knot, Derek Jeter—the fans recognized baseball’s burgeoning crop of talent carrying the present and representing the future.

Let’s take a look at the finalized rosters and starting lineups for Tuesday night’s exhibition contest with real-world repercussions:

American League

In his final All-Star Game, Ortiz will babysit a loaded young lineup that features three Boston Red Sox teammates. If baseball’s best lineup wasn’t already stacked enough, the best of Boston’s batting order joins Jose Altuve, Mike Trout and Manny Machado.

This is what an All-Star lineup looks like when fans don’t go off the grid. Kansas City Royals skipper Ned Yost was gifted a group with contact, power and speed. Salvador Perez is the only starter batting below .295, and he’s a catcher with a .500 slugging percentage and excellent defensive skills. 

Yost could have picked the batting order out of a hat—Kansas City’s lineups occasionally have that look—and it would do just fine.

However, he faced a tougher decision regarding which pitcher to start. Having few choices to begin with, he lost a prime contender in late scratch Danny Salazar (elbow). With a staff dominated by relievers, he had limited options—unless he were to make the unconventional decision to open with one of his many late-inning specialists.

Instead, he chose one of baseball’s most respected aces: Chicago White Sox southpaw Chris Sale. During Monday’s media session, Yost referenced his familiarity with the American League Central foe, per CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes:

For the few simpletons out there who still regard wins as the pinnacle of pitcher evaluation, this year’s 14-win campaign is better than Sale’s 12-win 2014 and 13-win 2015. Yet he’s having a letdown season for his astronomically high standards.

His 3.38 ERA, which would be a personal high if not for last year’s 3.41, is above his career 2.97 mark. While his peripherals indicate better 2015 production, his 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings and 3.74 FIP both represent the worst rates of his career.

Perhaps Yost made up his mind before Sale relinquished eight runs to the Atlanta Braves, baseball’s worst offense by nearly every metric. In his defense, the next-best choice was knuckleballer Steven Wright, who has allowed 18 runs over his last three starts.

Like Yost’s Royals, the AL squad is still in good shape if it can hand its loaded bullpen a lead. That could mean jumping ahead after three or four frames.

National League

New York Mets manager Terry Collins faced an extra decision. The fans don’t select the National League’s designated hitter, but the game will utilize one despite taking place in the San Diego Padres’ home. 

He could have selected former Mets star Daniel Murphy, who has tormented his old club with seven home runs and 21 RBI this year (after finishing with six apiece in 2011 and 2012). The Washington Nationals second baseman boasts an MLB-best .348 batting average with a career-high 17 homers and .985 OPS.

Instead, local attendees will get something to cheer for when Padres first baseman Wil Myers starts and bats in the cleanup spot. With most of his early career marred by injuries, the 25-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year with 19 homers, 15 steals and an .873 OPS.

Collins’ entire infield can relate to his Murphy-induced pain, as all four members represent the Chicago Cubs. Although the injured Dexter Fowler (hamstring) won’t join them, the team will still have an unusually big impact on the Midsummer Classic, as the USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale noted:

Voted into the starting lineup, Fowler and Yoenis Cespedes will sit out to the benefit of Carlos Gonzalez and Marcell Ozuna. The Colorado Rockies outfielder, who was eliminated in the first round of Monday night’s Home Run Derby, will hope to find better success away from Coors Field than his .737 first-half OPS. Ozuna, meanwhile, deserved to start all along with a 3.3 WAR, which is tied with Harper for the second-best among NL outfielders.

The reigning MVP has an opportunity to sway home-field advantage in the World Series on Tuesday night. But he told MLB Network on Monday night that he wishes he didn’t, courtesy of Rotoworld’s D.J. Short:

At first, Collins had the easiest starting pitching choice in the world thanks to Clayton Kershaw’s unbelievable first half. But then he landed on the disabled list (back). Madison Bumgarner, Noah Syndergaard and Stephen Strasburg were all enticing alternatives before getting replaced. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester are slumping too much to join their Cubs teammates.

That left Johnny Cueto and Jose Fernandez as the top aces standing, and Collins selected the San Francisco Giants veteran. Let’s just pretend Cueto earned the nod on his 2.47 ERA and 2.70 FIP rather than his 13-1 record.

It’s probably for the best, as letting Fernandez loose for one inning later in the game should spark magic.

Note: All advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy baseball gamers need the MLB All-Star break nearly as much as the players.

Managing a fake baseball squad is a thankless job with no off days. There’s a reason fantasy football has commanded more mainstream popularity. Instead of setting one lineup a week, MLB fiends must monitor leagues on a daily basis for half the year.

More than midway into the season, owners of rotting rotisserie squads are realizing an epic comeback isn’t happening. But don’t give up this far into the game.

Instead, take these extra few days to recharge. Rather than worrying about the daily grind, study the bigger picture. What categories need work? Does any position stick out as a weakness or expendable strength to address before the league’s trade deadline?

Now is also a time to cut dead weight, regardless of their preseason draft slot, for a free agent in better position to help down the stretch. Let’s take a look at players available in over 50 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues to grab before play resumes on Friday.

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At least this game doesn’t count.

Using the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game as some sort of tiebreaker wouldn’t be much sillier than the All-Star Game determining home-field advantage for the World Series. Luckily this is not yet the case, so viewers can instead laugh at famous people embarrassing themselves while wondering which legends would still represent an upgrade for the Atlanta Braves.

After getting a glimpse of the game’s upcoming stars during the Futures Game, a wide-ranging group of athletes, actors, models and musicians will take the field on Sunday night. The contest, however, won’t be televised until the Home Run Derby concludes on Monday night.

Do any of these softball participants have a future in the big leagues? Not unless Manny Delgado from Modern Family swaps talents with Manny Machado. Will Tim Raines lock down his deserving spot in Cooperstown with a strong performance? One can only hope.

Or it’s just something to leave on before going to bed after watching Giancarlo Stanton decimate baseballs. That’s fine, too. Here’s a look at the schedule and rosters, courtesy of MLB.com.

All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game

When: Sunday, July 10 (televised on June 11)

Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California

Time: Following the MLB Futures Game (starts at 7 p.m. ET)

TV: ESPN (Monday night after the Home Run Derby, which begins at 8 p.m. ET) 

This game doesn’t have Stanton and Mark Trumbo, but two hulking celebrity ringers could bring the power.

Now everyone knows why J.K. Simmons bulked up. Commissioner Gordon doesn’t need to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the veteran actor needs those muscles to take Rollie Fingers or David Wells deep.

Per Business Insider’s Jason Guerrasio, he insists the transformation had nothing to do with saving Gotham City or showing up Jennie Finch.

“This is all coincidental,” Simmons said. “After the second and final time that I got hugely fat in my life and when I lost that weight six or seven years ago, I pretty much decided that I was going to stay in decent shape for the rest of my life.”

Before branding him the game’s most muscular celebrity, let’s not forget about Terry Crews. Before becoming an Old Spice spokesman and playing Terry Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.

The former linebacker now has the makings of a bat-first first baseman or corner outfielder injected into the lineup for pop. And yes, this is the same game featuring multiple actors from Disney Channel shows.

On the legends front, Sunday night will turn into an impromptu celebration of the Montreal Expos. Raines might not have much left in the tank at age 56, but Vladimir Guerrero is five years removed from the majors.

The 41-year-old also has a Hall of Fame case to cement. He retired hitting .317/.379/.553 with 449 home runs and 181 stolen bases, but poor defensive metrics could place his candidacy into peril. Nevertheless, the free swinger hit baseballs few others could touch, and he hit them hard. 

Never one to hold back, a gloveless Guerrero will once again swing for the fences with all his might. He’ll supply energy to the lackadaisical contest, perhaps even giving front offices ideas of pitching a comeback.

An assortment of former San Diego Padres stars will also return to Petco Park. He spent most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, but Ozzie Smith stole 147 bases and won the first two of 13 straight Gold Glove awards with the Friars.

Chris Berman won’t be the only Boomer on ESPN Monday night. Wells, who made two separate stops in San Diego during his 40s, will compete for unofficial win No. 240. An actual pitcher win doesn’t matter much anyway, so why not count a few underhanded outs?

If the softball gods work their magic, the team with Trevor Hoffman will nurse a small lead into the final frame. Six years after hanging up his cleats, MLB’s second all-time saves leader behind Mariano Rivera could receive another opportunity to run out with “Hells Bells” blaring over Petco’s speakers.

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The upcoming MLB All-Star break freezes the standings, forcing organizations to spend the reprieve deliberating their status before the trade deadline.

For just this year, general managers get an extra day with the non-waiver deadline pushed to August 1. Action won’t accelerate until later in July, but everyone can get a feel for who’s buying, who’s selling and which players will frequent the conversations.

Let’s not get carried away with grand aspirations of the Los Angeles Angels opening a bidding war for Mike Trout. A last-place team will sell veterans but usually not young stars. For that reason, this won’t be a place to discuss trade scenarios for Wil Myers (25 years old), Julio Teheran (25), Chris Archer (27) or Sonny Gray (26).

Let’s instead examine notable players with a more realistic chance of changing employers before the deadline. It’s not all veterans on expiring contracts, as a couple of need-based exchanges should intrigue all parties.

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Last year’s Home Run Derby format changes breathed new life into a tradition that had been gradually growing stale.

In hopes of speeding up the exhibition event, MLB introduced a single-elimination, eight-person bracket with timed rounds instead of outs. Since every blast isn’t equal, batters also earned bonus time based on distance traveled.

The players are seeded by their current home run tallies, with a coin flip serving as the tiebreaker. If a tie occurs during any round, a 90-second swing-off will break the stalemate.

Perhaps Petco Park’s history as a pitcher’s haven has scared away some dream participants, but the show must go on. Do you want the truth about an event that is in danger of running its course, or do you want to see some players sock a few dingers?

Here’s a look at the official participants and the bracket announced by MLB Thursday night:

2016 MLB Home Run Derby

When: Monday at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Petco Park, San Diego

TV: ESPN

There’s one problem plaguing this year’s Home Run Derby: None of the top stars wanted to do it.

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper—two of the game’s brightest superstars whose collision would script a cash-cow narrative—provided the exact same response.

“I just don’t want to, plain and simple,” Harper told ESPN.com’s Eddie Matz Tuesday. “I just don’t really wanna do it. I just want to enjoy my time, sit on the side and watch it a little bit.”

“I just don’t want to do it,” Trout said, per Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. “It’s a long two days. Eventually, I’m gonna try to do it, just not this year.”

They’re not the only marquee holdouts. Kris Bryant—who has joined them on the top pantheon of young phenoms with a National League-high 25 home runs—also passed, per CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine:

I don’t want to do it. It is too tiring. I will enjoy watching it if I am there. Last year, it really took me a couple of days to recover from it. Swinging a bat does not look like it is tiring, but when you do it for five straight minutes, trying to hit it as hard as you can, it gets real tiring. Home Run Derbys are fun, but I will have to pass.

David Ortiz leads the majors with a hulking .677 slugging percentage during his final season. He has to do it, right? Nope. The 40-year-old is worried about wearing himself thin, so he’s out too. 

Let’s hold off on inviting Madison Bumgarner and Ichiro Suzuki out of desperation. There’s plenty of potent pop in a field led by defending champion Todd Frazier.

Despite his .211 average, the Chicago White Sox third baseman has already crushed 23 long balls, nearly matching his 25 at last year’s All-Star break. He’ll face steep competition in Mark Trumbo, who leads MLB with 26 homers and an average home run distance of 413 feet, per Baseball Savant. 

For the second straight year, a rookie will represent the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Home Run Derby. Fans will hope All-Star shortstop Corey Seager doesn’t keep following the path of Joc Pederson, who hit .178/.317/.300 after the Midsummer Classic.

Seager, however, is a much more well-rounded hitter who has raked since joining the club last summer. If Dodgers fans are still worried, Yahoo Sports’ Will Laws debunked the fabled Home Run Derby curse:

Of those 16 most recent Derby victors, nine saw their home run rates increase after winning the contest — Yoenis Cespedes (2013), Prince Fielder (2012, 2009), Robinson Cano (2011), Vladimir Guerrero (2007), Ryan Howard (2006), Miguel Tejada (2004), Jason Giambi (2002) and Sammy Sosa (2000).

Keep in mind, these hitters were tapped to compete because they already stockpiled gaudy home run totals in the first half. And they were even more proficient after showcasing their power for the fans.

The newcomer’s biggest problem is facing Trumbo as the No. 8 seed. If Seager prevails, he must then eliminate 2011 champion Robinson Cano or Giancarlo Stanton, a power cyborg constructed specifically for such an event.

While the outfielder has struggled this season, he caught fire with consecutive two-homer games against the New York Mets. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, the Miami Marlins outfielder makes sure to give fans in the nosebleeds a chance to collect a souvenir: 

Stanton is not an All-Star, but he’s still the prohibitive favorite to win Monday night. Just don’t sleep on Adam Duvall, who has hit 20 of his 22 homers since May 1. The Cincinnati Reds’ lone All-Star must first vanquish Wil Myers in front of the San Diego Padres faithful, but he’s the best bet to survive the right side of the bracket.

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