The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have four hitters in the National League’s starting lineup when the world’s best players gather July 14 in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game.
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who received the most votes among National League players to guarantee his sixth consecutive All-Star spot last week, learned Saturday he will be joined in the lineup by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and center fielder Andy Pages.
Fans and players also elected Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as starters. Baldwin, Marsh and Pages are first-time all-stars.
The American League starting lineup features a mix of perpetual All-Stars and new faces. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton comprise the AL’s outfield, though Judge (rib stress fracture) likely won’t be available and Trout (hamstring) might not be activated in time to play.
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement make their All-Star Game debuts alongside Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
Alvarez cracked his league-high 28th home run Saturday night while Caminero delivered his 11th blast in the Rays’ last 11 games to move his home run total to 26 for the year.
Clement, who owns a .293 batting average and .746 OPS for the 42-47 Blue Jays, received the most fan votes to become the first AL player to secure his spot in the lineup. Langeliers is the first A’s catcher selected to start since Terry Steinbach made consecutive starts in 1988 and 1989.
The American League pitching staff features 11 hurlers making either their first or second All-Star Game appearance. Only Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (ninth selection) knows the ropes extensively.
Toronto’s Dylan Cease, Cleveland’s Parker Messick, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, New York’s Cam Schlitter, Boston’s Ranger Suarez and Kansas City’s Michael Wacha are the starters selected while Chapman is joined in the bullpen by Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker, Texas’ Jacob Latz, Cleveland’s Cade Smith and Toronto’s Louis Varland.
The NL staff features slightly more experience as Atlanta ace Chris Sale (10th selection) is the only pitcher with more than three All-Star Games on his resume. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns, Miami’s Max Meyer, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez, Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto join Sale on the starting staff.
San Diego closer Mason Miller leads a bullpen that includes Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran and Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias.
In addition to Marsh, Sanchez and Duran, Phillies fans will get to cheer for first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as reserves. Harper (ninth All-Star appearance) was deemed a “legend pick” while Schwarber leads the majors with 30 homers.
The National League bench consists of catchers William Contreras (Milwaukee) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado), first baseman Matt Olson (Atlanta), shortstop Otto Lopez (Miami), utility infielders Luis Arraez (San Francisco) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati) and outfielders Corbin Carroll (Arizona), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Jordan Walker (St. Louis) and James Wood (Washington).
The Phillies, Dodgers and Braves boast the most All-Stars with five apiece. Twenty-six players — including 15 of the 32 players on the American League roster — are making their first All-Star appearance.
