The MLB All-Star game is just days away, and with home field advantage on the line in the World Series, expect certain stars to put on a show.
Let’s take a look at this year’s All-Star rosters for both the American and National League, then dive into whom to keep an eye on.
MLB All-Star Game Rosters
American League
Name |
Team |
|
*C |
Joe Mauer |
Twins |
*1B |
Chris Davis |
Orioles |
*2B |
Robinson Cano |
Yankees |
*SS |
J.J. Hardy |
Orioles |
*3B |
Miguel Cabrera |
Tigers |
*OF |
Mike Trout |
Angels |
*OF |
Adam Jones |
Orioles |
*OF |
Jose Bautista |
Blue Jays |
*DH |
David Ortiz |
Red Sox |
^P |
Clay Buchholz |
Red Sox |
P |
Brett Cecil |
Blue Jays |
P |
Bartolo Colon |
A’s |
^P |
Jesse Crain |
White Sox |
P |
Matt Moore |
Rays |
P |
Felix Hernandez |
Mariners |
P |
Hisashi Iwakuma |
Mariners |
P |
Justin Masterson |
Indians |
P |
Joe Nathan |
Rangers |
P |
Steve Delabar |
Blue Jays |
P |
Glen Perkins |
Twins |
P |
Mariano Rivera |
Yankees |
P |
Chris Sale |
White Sox |
P |
Max Scherzer |
Tigers |
P |
Justin Verlander |
Tigers |
C |
Jason Castro |
Astros |
C |
Salvador Perez |
Royals |
1B |
Prince Fielder |
Tigers |
2B |
Jason Kipnis |
Indians |
2B |
Dustin Pedroia |
Red Sox |
2B |
Ben Zobrist |
Rays |
SS |
Jhonny Peralta |
Tigers |
3B |
Manny Machado |
Orioles |
OF |
Nelson Cruz |
Rangers |
OF |
Alex Gordon |
Royals |
OF |
Torii Hunter |
Tigers |
DH |
Edwin Encarnacion |
Blue Jays |
National League
Name |
Team |
|
*C |
Yadier Molina |
Cardinals |
*1B |
Joey Votto |
Reds |
*2B |
Brandon Phillips |
Reds |
*SS |
Troy Tulowitzki |
Rockies |
*3B |
David Wright |
Mets |
*OF |
Carlos Beltran |
Cardinals |
*OF |
Carlos Gonzalez |
Rockies |
*OF |
Bryce Harper |
Nationals |
P |
Madison Bumgarner |
Giants |
P |
Aroldis Chapman |
Reds |
P |
Patrick Corbin |
Diamondbacks |
P |
Jose Fernandez |
Marlins |
P |
Jason Grilli |
Pirates |
P |
Matt Harvey |
Mets |
P |
Clayton Kershaw |
Dodgers |
P |
Craig Kimbrel |
Braves |
P |
Cliff Lee |
Phillies |
P |
Jeff Locke |
Pirates |
P |
Adam Wainwright |
Cardinals |
P |
Travis Wood |
Cubs |
P |
Jordan Zimmermann |
Nationals |
C |
Buster Posey |
Giants |
1B |
Paul Goldschmidt |
Diamondbacks |
1B |
Allen Craig |
Cardinals |
1B |
Freddie Freeman |
Braves |
2B |
Matt Carpenter |
Cardinals |
2B |
Marco Scutaro |
Giants |
SS |
Everth Cabrera |
Padres |
SS |
Jean Segura |
Brewers |
3B |
Pedro Alvarez |
Pirates |
OF |
Domonic Brown |
Phillies |
OF |
Michael Cuddyer |
Rockies |
OF |
Carlos Gomez |
Brewers |
OF |
Andrew McCutchen |
Pirates |
* = Starter
^ = Injured, will not play
Rosters courtesy of MLB.com.
Based on the first half of play in the 2013 season, here are the three players sure to stand out in this year’s All-Star game:
Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Freeman was named to the NL roster via fan vote, beating out young Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig for the spot. Regardless of how he made the All-Star game, Freeman is sure to make his presence felt for his team.
The Braves’ first baseman has tallied 60 RBIs, 49 runs and 19 doubles to pair with his .313 batting average. Freeman’s average puts him among the top 20 players in that category heading into the All-Star break.
The high average is a tad unexpected from the young power hitter. Freeman posted a .259 average just last season, but did bat .282 in 2011.
All of these stats mean that Freeman is seeing the ball better than he ever has during his big-league career. It might come in the form of doubles and singles instead of a home run, but Freeman will make some noise for the NL in this game.
Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
Someone who is almost guaranteed to make his presence felt with a homer in the exhibition is Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis.
Davis currently leads the MLB in home runs with 34, already besting his previous career single-season high of 33 set last year. His 34 dingers are also more than NL Home Run Derby captain David Wright has ever recorded in a single season.
There’s no better or easier way to say it: Davis is simply crushing everything he sees so far this season. Like Freeman, Davis is also boasting an unusually high average of .310. Over his six years in the majors, Davis has accumulated a .267 career average.
Even with the National League’s best arms throwing at the Orioles slugger, he’s sure to grab at least one home run.
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
With young hurlers like Matt Harvey and now Matt Moore in this All-Star game, one might forget about guys like Adam Wainwright. Considering his season so far though, the AL better not take the Cardinals’ pitcher lightly.
Wainwright currently owns the third-best ERA among all MLB pitchers at 2.30. That number puts him ahead of the likes of Harvey, Jordan Zimmermann and Felix Hernandez.
While he won’t be given a whole lot of innings to make a difference, Wainwright is sure to keep the American League bats silent when he’s on the mound. He already has 126 strikeouts, which just is 58 fewer than his total from 2012.
Wainwright is sure to sit some AL batters down on strikes when he pitches in the Mid-Summer classic. Even if he only works an inning, he will keep the AL off the bases for that time frame.
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