The 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, to be held at the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park, is just one week away and baseball fans around the world now know who they’ll be watching next Tuesday night on Fox as rosters for the game were announced on Tuesday evening .
What is known is that the Chicago Cubs , who lead all MLB teams with seven representatives, will have at least five starters for the National League, including all four infield spots. Anthony Rizzo will start at first base, Ben Zobrist at second base, Addison Russell at shortstop, and reigning NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant will handle the duties at third base. Outfielder Dexter Fowler, who is currently on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, remains hopeful that he’ll be able to return to play in his very first All-Star Game. It’s quite possible that Cubs ace Jake Arrieta could be the sixth starter for the North Siders, especially given that Clayton Kershaw will miss the festivities due to his own stint on the disabled list. Arrieta is scheduled to pitch this Friday in Pittsburgh. Jon Lester, the National League Pitcher of the Month in June, is the seventh member of the Chicago Cubs on the roster.
Assuming he’s ready to go, Fowler will be joined in the outfield by the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper and the New York Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes, who’s one of three Mets that will join manager Terry Collins in the NL dugout. Collins hasn’t yet picked a designated hitter for the game, which, even though the game is being played in a National League park, will still be used, a rule that MLB instituted in 2010.
Fans once again have the chance to vote for the 34th and final spot on each roster at MLB.com/vote until 4:00 Eastern time on Friday. This year’s National League candidates are Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb, Pirates outfielder Starling Marte, and Rockies shortstop Trevor Story.
MLB All-Star Game National League Starters C: Buster Posey, Giants 1B: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs 2B: Ben Zobrist, Cubs 3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs SS: Addison Russell, Cubs OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets OF: Dexter Fowler, Cubs OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
MLB All-Star Game National League Reserves C: Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers C: Wilson Ramos, Nationals 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs 1B: Wil Myers, Padres 2B: Daniel Murphy, Nationals 3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies 3B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers OF: Adam Duvall, Reds OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies OF: Odubel Herrera, Phillies OF: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins
MLB All-Star Game National League Pitchers RHP: Jake Arrieta, Cubs LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants RHP: Johnny Cueto, Giants RHP: Jeurys Familia, Mets RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers LHP: Jon Lester, Cubs RHP: Mark Melancon, Pirates RHP: A.J. Ramos, Marlins RHP: Fernando Rodney, Marlins RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals RHP: Noah Syndergaard, Mets RHP: Julio Teheran, Braves
MLB All-Star Game National League Final Vote Candidates 1B: Brandon Belt, Giants OF: Ryan Braun, Brewers 3B: Jake Lamb, D-backs OF: Starling Marte, Pirates SS: Trevor Story, Rockies
The American League roster has this year’s MLB All-Star Game leading vote-getter in Royals catcher Salvador Perez (4,965,838 votes) and he’ll be joined in the starting lineup by his teammate, first baseman Eric Hosmer, for manager Ned Yost’s squad, and they’ll be joined by Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, Angels outfielder Mike Trout, and four members of the Boston Red Sox, who led the way in the AL with six total representatives. Xander Bogaerts will play shortstop, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Mookie Betts will join Trout in the outfield, and making his tenth and final appearance in the MLB All-Star Game will be designated hitter David Ortiz, who plans to retire at the end of the 2016 season.
The final vote candidates in the American League are Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders, and Astros outfielder George Springer.
MLB All-Star Game American League Starters C: Salvador Perez, Royals 1B: Eric Hosmer, Royals 2B: Jose Altuve, Astros 3B: Manny Machado, Orioles SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox OF: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox OF: Mike Trout, Angels DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
MLB All-Star Game American League Reserves C: Stephen Vogt, Athletics C: Matt Wieters, Orioles 1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 2B: Robinson Cano, Mariners 3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians SS: Eduardo Nunez, Twins OF: Carlos Beltran, Yankees OF: Ian Desmond, Rangers OF: Mark Trumbo, Orioles DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
MLB All-Star Game American League Pitchers RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees RHP: Brad Brach, Orioles LHP: Zach Britton, Orioles RHP: Alex Colome, Rays RHP: Wade Davis, Royals RHP: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays LHP: Cole Hamels, Rangers RHP: Will Harris, Astros RHP: Kelvin Herrera, Royals RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox LHP: Andrew Miller, Yankees RHP: Danny Salazar, Indians LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox RHP: Steven Wright, Red Sox
MLB All-Star Game American League Final Vote Candidates 2B: Ian Kinsler, Tigers 3B: Evan Longoria, Rays 2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox OF: Michael Saunders, Blue Jays OF: George Springer, Astros
[Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images]
