Ready for the MLB All-Stars 2023?

Are you ready for the 93^rd edition of the Major League Baseball’s All-Star game?

It’s the annual spectacle of the MLB, the contest which pits the best of the American League versus the National League in a nine-inning clash.

Both teams are stacked with talent from across both leagues including players like the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr.

The National League also must end its drought this season. If they can’t win, the AL will deliver a 10^th win to their league streak, a streak which started in 2013.

Let’s get a low-down on what to expect on Tuesday night shall we?

What is the All-Star game?

Also known as the ‘Midsummer Classic’, the All-Star Game is the big one which marks the half-way point of the Regular Season and the MLB’s break period where there are no fixtured games.

It pulls together the very best talent from the American League and National League.

Only in 1945 and 2020 were there no All-Star games.

The very first All-Star game was played in 1933 and it was created by the then sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, Arch Ward.

Future Hall of Famer Babe Ruth would hit a two-run homerun and a massive catch in the 8^th inning to help the American League to beat the National League 4 – 2.

Where is it?

This season the All-Star game will take place at the Seattle Mariners ballpark, the T-Mobile Park in Seattle Washington.

The team were awarded the game back in September 2021 and it’ll be their third time hosting it.

Rosters

Both All-Star teams are selected by a combination of fan votes, player and commissioner selection.

Each team is made up of 32 players, mixed with starters, pitchers, relievers and reserves.

The initial nine starters for both teams are selected a two-phase fan vote. This was held towards the end of June.

The top voted player in a position will automatically be selected and the two below going through to the second phase.

Reserves and pitchers are then based on player and commissioner selection.

The most important thing is that each team is represented in the contest and that doesn’t mean that each players has to take to the field. This can be largely due to injuries suffered prior to the game.

Both managers (AL Dusty Baker and NL Rob Thomson) will shore up their team with plenty of reserves and replacements.

Who’s in the roster?

Here’s the full breakdown of both team’s rosters as of July 8^th.

American League

Starters

C: Jonah Heim, Rangers

1B: Yandy Díaz, Rays

2B: Marcus Semien, Rangers

3B: Josh Jung, Rangers

SS: Corey Seager, Rangers

OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees (injured, will not play in ASG)

OF: Mike Trout, Angels (injured, will not play in ASG)

OF: Randy Arozarena, Rays

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

Manager: Dusty Baker, Astros

Position player reserves

C Salvador Perez, Royals 

C Adley Rutschman, Orioles

1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 

2B Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays

SS Bo Bichette, Blue Jays

3B José Ramírez, Guardians

SS Wander Franco, Rays (replaces Aaron Judge)

OF: Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

OF Austin Hays, Orioles (will start in place of Trout)

OF Yordan Alvarez, Astros (injured, will not play in ASG)

OF Adolis García, Rangers (will start in place of Judge)

OF Julio Rodríguez, Mariners (replaces Yordan Alvarez)

OF Kyle Tucker, Astros (replaces Mike Trout)

DH: Brent Rooker, Athletics

Pitchers

Shohei Ohtani, Angels (unlikely to pitch in ASG due to finger issue)

Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Luis Castillo, Mariners

Sonny Gray, Twins

Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers

Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

Shane McClanahan, Rays (injured, will not play in ASG)

Framber Valdez, Astros

Michael Lorenzen, Tigers

Kenley Jansen, Red Sox

Emmanuel Clase, Guardians

Félix Bautista, Orioles

Yennier Cano, Orioles

George Kirby, Mariners (replaces Shane McClanahan)

Pablo Lopez, Twins 

National League

Starters

C: Sean Murphy, Braves

1B: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

2B: Luis Arraez, Marlins

3B: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

SS: Orlando Arcia, Braves

OF: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers

OF: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

DH: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers

Manager: Rob Thomson, Phillies

Position player reserves

C Will Smith, Dodgers

C Elias Díaz, Rockies

1B Matt Olson, Braves 

1B Pete Alonso, Mets

2B Ozzie Albies, Braves

3B Austin Riley, Braves 

SS Dansby Swanson, Cubs

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Diamondbacks

OF Nick Castellanos, Phillies

OF Juan Soto, Padres

DH: Jorge Soler, Marlins

Pitchers

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks

Spencer Strider, Braves (will not pitch)

Bryce Elder, Braves (will not pitch)

Justin Steele, Cubs

Mitch Keller, Pirates

Josiah Gray, Nationals

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (injured, will not pitch)

Marcus Stroman, Cubs (will not pitch)

Alexis Díaz, Reds

Josh Hader, Padres

Devin Williams, Brewers (will not pitch)

Camilo Doval, Giants

David Bednar, Pirates (replaces Clayton Kershaw)

Alex Cobb, Giants (replaces Bryce Elder)

Kodai Senga, Mets (replaces Marcus Stroman)

Craig Kimbrel, Phillies (replaces Devin Williams)

Corbin Burnes, Brewers (replaces Spencer Strider)

Observations:

The Atlanta Braves have the most all-star selections. Their contribution to the National League team includes the Shortstop Orlando Arcia and Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.

This is significant because it represents the most representation by one team in the All-Stars since the Texas Rangers in 2012. They too had eight players on the roster.

Both Texas Rangers (AL) and Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) have five players each including Jonah Heim and Freddie Freeman.

The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are sending four players each.

What’s also significant to see is that more than five of the Los Angeles Dodgers are making their fourth consecutive All-Star appearance.

Likewise the Toronto Blue Jays have four players in the AL squad which are now in their third consecutive appearance.

It’s also been seven years since the Baltimore Orioles had more than one player in the All-Stars squad.