The summer is upon us and we are at the halfway point of the Major League Baseball season, which means it’s time to start thinking about the mid-summer classic, the MLB All-Star Game! On Sunday evening, the rosters for both the American League and the National League were released for the big game on July 17, 2018 at Nationals Park in Washington DC.
The National League lineup will consist of the following starters:
Catcher Willson Contreras Chicago Cubs
First Base Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves
Second Base Javier Baez Chicago Cubs
Third Base Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies
Shortstop Brandon Crawford San Francisco Giants
Outfield Bryce Harper Washington Nationals
Outfield Matt Kemp LA Dodgers
Outfield Nick Markakis Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs both share the lead for the most All-Star’s in the starting lineup this year. The Braves will send their red hot first basemen Freddie Freeman to the All-Star game. This will be his third All-Star game and he was the overwhelming fan favorite this year with the most votes in the National League. The other Brave is Nick Markakis, who will be making his All-Star debut. Markakis has been in the league for 12 years and is a career .289 hitter, but has never made it to a All-Star game prior to this year.
Catcher Willson Contreras and Javier Baez of the Cubs will both be making their All-Star Game debuts. Contreras is in his second year in the majors, while Baez has been in the league since 2014.
Hometown hero Bryce Harper will have the most experience in a All-Star game, making his 6th appearance in a All-Star game. The Rockies are sending Nolan Arenado to the All-Star game for his 4th time. Arenado is crushing the ball this year and one of the most deserving of the National League. He leads the National League in Home Runs this year with 22.
The American League All-Star lineup will consist of the following starters:
Catcher Wilson Ramos Tampa Bay Rays
First Base Jose Abreu Chicago White Sox
Second Base Jose Altuve Houston Astros
Third Base Jose Ramirez Cleveland Indians
Shortstop Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles
Outfield Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox
Outfield Mike Trout LA Angels
Outfield Aaron Judge New York Yankees
The American League is definitely the more experienced roster in 2018 in the All-Star Game. Every single player on the American League roster has appeared in at least one previous All-Star Game. Mike Trout leads all American League players on the roster for his seventh appearance. Trout is second in the American League with 25 Home Runs, just two behind JD Martinez, who did not get a spot on the starting roster and leads the American League in Home Runs and RBI’s and is third in batting average.
This will be the 89th rendition of the MLB All-Star Game. The game will take place on July 17, 2018 in Washington DC and can be seen on FOX beginning at 7:30 PM ET.
