All teams in Major League Baseball must be represented in this game, which at times leads to a variety of different snubs and some impartial decisions. Replacement players often factor into the outcome of the game. Below, I will be previewing who I think deserve to be the 34 All-Stars on the AL this season. Statistics in parentheses are updated through Saturday, July 4. The starting position players reflect the most updated voting results (Monday, June 29).
American League
Starting Lineup
SS Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals (.277 BA, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 5 SB)
CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (.300 BA, 20 HR, 44 RBI, 9 SB)
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (.350 BA, 15 HR, 54 RBI)*
3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays (.295 BA, 19 HR, 54 RBI)
DH Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners (.304 BA, 21 HR, 50 RBI)
LF Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals (.260 BA, 9 HR, 32 RBI)
RF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals (.309 BA, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 16 SB)
C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals (.263 BA, 13 HR, 34 RBI)
2B Omar Infante, Kansas City Royals (.233 BA, 0 HR, 23 RBI)
SP: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (10-5, 3.02 ERA)
*Injured – will be replaced
The starting lineup has a lot of Royals. Some of the Royals are deserving of an All-Star birth, but others are not. If Infante ends up winning the second base vote, it could mean an All-Star snub for a well-deserved second baseman such as Dustin Pedroia, Jose Altuve, Ian Kinsler, Robinson Cano, or Brian Dozier.
The Reserves
C: Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics (.294 BA, 13 HR, 53 RBI)
C: Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays (.257 BA, 12 HR, 38 RBI)
These were easy choices here. Perez, Vogt, and Martin are all having phenomenal seasons. The only other possibility here is the Yankees’ Brian McCann.
1B: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (.263 BA, 24 HR, 51 RBI)
1B: Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers (.346 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI)
1B: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox (.294 BA, 14 HR, 44 RBI)
Fielder is having a phenomenal comeback season, as he’s hitting .340 in the middle of the Rangers’ order. Hosmer and Cabrera are close for the battle of 1B in voting, and Hosmer or Jose Abreu is a worthy replacement here. I’ll go with Abreu.
2B: Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians (.342 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 10 SB)
2B: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros (.302 BA, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 23 SB)
As mentioned above, Infante’s starting berth could cost one of these guys a spot on the team. I’m going to give the nods here to Kipnis and Altuve, but Boston’s Pedroia (DL) and Minnesota’s Dozier are worthy.
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox (.302 BA, 3 HR, 37 RBI)
SS: Jose Iglesias, Detroit Tigers (.320 BA, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 9 SB)
Shortstop is not as deep of a position as it has been in years past. There’s no Derek Jeter this year. Remember the days of Jeter, A-Rod, Nomar Garciaparra, Omar Vizquel, and Miguel Tejada? These days are unfortunately behind us. I expect Bogaerts to be a star in Boston one day, and Iglesias is one of the best defensive shortstops in recent memory. Houston’s Carlos Correa is an option as well with a monster rookie campaign.
3B: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals (.303 BA, 7 HR, 31 RBI)
3B: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles (.302 BA, 17 HR, 46 RBI, 11 SB)
Machado is having one of the most under-the-radar seasons in all of baseball, as he’s tearing the cover off of the baseball in the leadoff spot for Baltimore. Other options at third base for the American League include the player traded for Donaldson, Oakland’s Brett Lawrie, and Seattle’s Kyle Seager.
OF: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles (.283 BA, 10 HR, 37 RBI)
OF: Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians (.290 BA, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 9 SB)
OF: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees (.299 BA, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 15 SB)
OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers (.294 BA, 10 HR, 44 RBI)
There are a lot of outfielders to choose from in the American League. Jones, Brantley, Cespedes and George Springer (injured, would be on my roster otherwise) are all having great years in the heart of their team’s lineups. Other outfield options include Oakland’s Josh Reddick, Detroit’s J.D. Martinez, Boston’s Mookie Betts, and Toronto’s Jose Bautista.
The Pitchers
SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (10-5, 3.02 ERA)
SP Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics (9-3, 2.09 ERA)
SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox (6-4, 2.87 ERA)
SP Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays (9-5, 2.18 ERA)
SP Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (10-3, 2.03 ERA)
SP David Price, Detroit Tigers (8-2, 2.54 ERA)
It will be a tough decision for AL Manager Ned Yost when it comes to picking his starting pitcher for the game. None of the above pitchers would be bad choices at all. I’m going to give the nod to King Felix here. He’s been in this spot before, and he’s well deserving, once again in 2015. Keuchel, Archer, and Gray would be first-time All-Stars, and are well-deserving of a spot on the team. Sale and Price round out the starters, as their consistency over the years, combined with great 2015 seasons, make them easy picks for the team.
RP Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles (0-0, 1.82 ERA, 23 Saves)
RP Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins (0-1, 1.31 ERA, 27 Saves)
RP Huston Street, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (3-2, 2.14 ERA, 23 Saves)
RP Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals (4-1, 0.26 ERA, 9 Saves)
RP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees (5-1, 1.50 ERA, 7 Saves)
There are many great late-inning options for the AL this year. Perkins and Street are leading the American League in saves this season. Miller and Betances form a remarkable 8th and 9th inning combination for the Yankees. Britton is having another great year for Baltimore.
Sources
ESPN
MLB.com
Baseball-Reference.com
Image courtesy of MLB.com