This is just my quick analysis on the MLB All-Star game tonight. I won’t be out here trying to pound my chest over an exhibition game, but it’s a fun spot to maybe place some bets or do a Showdown lineup or ten…
AMERICAN LEAGUE HITTERS
| BO | Starter | Pos | Backup(s)* |
| 1 | Kwan | LF | Duran, Castro |
| 2 | Henderson | SS | Seager, Witt Jr. |
| 3 | Soto | RF | Santander |
| 4 | Judge | CF | Greene |
| 5 | Alvarez | DH | |
| 6 | Ramirez | 3B | Westburg, Paredes |
| 7 | Guerrero Jr | 1B | Naylor |
| 8 | Rutschman | C | Fry, Perez |
| 9 | Semien | 2B | Westburg, Paredes |
STARTERS
- Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Vlad Guerrero: Each of these guys have MVP upside and they’ll all definitely get 2 and in the case of Soto and Judge, maybe 3 PA.
- Yordan Alvarez: The challenge here is that DH is obviously the easiest position to PH for twice and not put the guys into the game, but he’s gonna get a couple AB and hits well in this park
RESERVE THOUGHTS
- With both Corey Seager and Bobby Witt Jr. having big time incentive to get into this game (Seager for home team and Witt being a Dallas/TX native) we have to expect Gunnar Henderson to have a short night or both of those reserves to get into the game early.
- Catcher is interesting because you would think as a veteran of the team, Salvador Perez deserves to catch behind the plate for a few innings, which means David Fry becomes a potential DH or generic pinch hitter and then he is done. Thus, Fry is a fade.
- It does setup though that there is a J-Ram, Naylor, Fry stack at the bottom of the order at one point.
- Westberg, Paredes, Castro likely get deployed late in the game.
- Riley Greene should replace Judge in CF and Duran should replace Kwan. Dont be shocked if Duran is a PR though for someone else and they use Castro in LF after him. Which makes Duran a fade.
NATIONAL LEAGUE HITTERS
| BO | Starter | Pos | Backup(s)* |
| 1 | Marte | 2B | Arraez |
| 2 | Ohtani | DH | |
| 3 | Turner | SS | Abrams, De La Cruz |
| 4 | Harper | 1B | Freeman, Alonso |
| 5 | Contreras | C | Smith |
| 6 | Yelich | RF | Ozuna |
| 7 | Bohm | 3B | McMahon |
| 8 | Hernandez | CF | Merill, Ramos |
| 9 | Profar | LF | Reynolds |
STARTERS
- Turner and Harper both have heavy bats behind them, but likely have a DH going in there as well.
- Teoscar Hernandez, sorry for doubting you early last night, but you aren’t a true CF. Jackson Merill is gonna take over there early.
- Gotta like Ohtani, Marte and Harper/Contreras the most. Christian Yelich is a sneaky play though, as I bet he gets 2 good AB vs a RHP.
RESERVE THOUGHTS
- The OF (Merill, Ramos, Reynolds) are gonna come in early, these are the prime spots to look at. All are gonna make a splash IMO.
- Does the NL just deploy Elly as a PR? I doubt it, gotta let him swing and play the position, which means CJ Abrams might be a third DH after Alonso or Freeman PH for Ohtani. All bad scenarios for Abrams.
PREDICTIONS
American League is loaded, but the All-Star game always gets controlled by the pitching and every pitcher should see time in this game. I’ll give the edge to the American League winning 5-2.
Favorite DFS Hitters:
- Aaron Judge
- Vlad Guerrero Jr
- Corey Seager
- Christian Yelich
- Jackson Merrill
Favorite DFS Pitchers:
- Paul Skenes
- Cole Ragans
- Tarik Skubal
- Emmanuel Clase
Home Run Predictions:
- Aaron Judge
- Jackson Merrill