MLB All-Star Predictions
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With baseball season rapidly approaching, what better time than now to make some All-Star predictions? Some players are seemingly locks to make the roster each year, while a few names may come out of nowhere and have breakout seasons. Selecting the rosters can be a bit tricky, as all 30 teams must have at least one representative. Each league gets a 32-man roster. We’ll get it started with our National League picks:
National League Catchers
Starter: Will Smith (LAD)
Backup: Gabriel Moreno (ARI)
Smith should enjoy a very solid year with the amount of production he’ll receive within the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup. He’ll likely bat fourth behind the three-headed monster of Betts-Ohtani-Freeman. You can expect Smith to get plenty of RBI opportunities. In the process, he’ll also likely get a diet of fastballs — a pitch he’s quite good at hitting via his shorter arms and direct approach to the baseball. Moreno might be a bit of a surprise, but he should be one of the leaders on what will be a very good Arizona squad. He’s only scratching the surface as to how good he can be.
National League First Basemen
Starter: Matt Olson (ATL)
Backup: Rhys Hoskins (MIL)
You’ll be splitting hairs here between Olson and Freddie Freeman. You can see either one of these guys starting at the position. Both will be in line for monster years. In a bit of a surprise, we think Hoskins nabs a spot on this team. He’ll be a premier bat in the heart of Milwaukee’s order. He’ll also be motivated by wanting to earn a long-term deal at year’s end. We could very well see a 30-to-35 HR for the slugging first baseman.
National League Second Basemen
Starter: Mookie Betts (LAD)
Backup: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
With Betts moving to second base full-time, there’s no doubt as to who will be the leader to start here. He’s one of the most dynamic players in all of baseball — not to mention among the most popular. Albies should yet again mash in Atlanta’s order. If a third second baseman is selected, watch out for Chicago’s Nico Hoerner and Bryston Stott of the Philadelphia Phillies.
National League Third Basemen
Starter: Austin Riley (ATL)
Backup: Nolan Arenado (STL)
We think Arenado has (at least) one more All-Star-level season for the Cards (who should be much better this year). With that said, the position for the foreseeable future in the National League will belong to Riley. If there’s a player capable of breaking into this duo, it would be Manny Machado of the Padres.
National League Shortstops
Starter: Trea Turner (PHI)
Backups: Francisco Lindor (NYM), CJ Abrams (WSH)
Turner got off to a slow start with Philadelphia, but turned it on towards the end of the season. New York needs a representative, and Lindor fits the bill here as the best player on that roster. Needing a spot for a Washington player, Abrams could be the pick. He’s got a very high ceiling and essentially broke out last year in his first extended chunk of time as a starting-level player.
National League Outfield
Starters: Corbin Carroll (ARI), Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL), Fernando Tatís Jr. (SDP)
Backups: Nolan Jones (COL), Ian Happ (CHC), Michael Harris II (ATL), Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
With Betts now in the infield, the projected starting trio of Tatís Jr., Carroll, and Acuña should be locked in barring injury or an unexpectedly poor season. Harris II had a stellar year in 2023, and there’s no reason to think he’ll regress. Jones will put up massive numbers at Coors Field and thus will act as the Rockies’ representative. Happ is one of the game’s more underrated players. However, there is a slight caveat here. If Cody Bellinger does re-sign with the Cubs, we could see him here at that spot. For Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds, the hope is the Pirates are more competitive in ’24. The switch-hitting outfielder boasted a .939 OPS in wins last year.
National League Designated Hitters
Starter: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
Backup: Bryce Harper (PHI)
Harper could be slotted in as a first baseman, though we think Philadelphia might opt to give him an extended amount of at-bats at DH to keep him fresh. In terms of the starting DH, the game’s best player will be comfortably sitting at that spot. With Freeman and Betts protecting him in the order, Ohtani should have a monster year in Los Angeles.
National League Starting Pitchers
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Starter: Spencer Strider (ATL)
Rotation: Jesús Luzardo (MIA), Bobby Miller (LAD), Logan Webb (SF), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD), Hunter Greene (CIN), Zac Gallen (ARI)
Strider is one of the game’s true power pitchers. An elite strike thrower with upper-crust velocity, he’s a good bet to start for the National League. Jesús Luzardo is a guy we think will break out as one of the game’s better left-handed pitchers. Gallen and Webb are rock-solid aces for their respective teams. Yamamoto will come in and take the league by storm with his assortment of pitches, while his teammate, Miller, will shine in Year 2. Lastly, as the Reds’ representative, we think Hunter Greene will realize his immense potential and become a fixture for Cincinnati in its rotation.
National League Relievers
Bullpen: David Bednar (PIT), Brusdar Graterol (LAD), Devin Williams (MIL), Ryan Helsley (STL), Paul Sewald (ARI)
All four of these guys have their respective strengths. Helsey operates with some high-octane gas. Williams has arguably the best changeup in baseball. Graterol is immensely intimidating with his frame, velocity, and movement on both his fastball and cutter. Lastly, Bednar and Sewald have cemented themselves as two of the most underappreciated relievers in the entire sport.
American League Catchers
Starter: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
Backup: Yainer Diaz (HOU)
Any catchers in the American League looking to snag an All-Star spot may find it difficult for the next decade. Barring health, Adley Rutschman will more than likely occupy one of the spots for the foreseeable future. The former No. 1 pick put together was named an All-Star and awarded the Silver Slugger trophy during his sophomore campaign. Only bigger and better things are on his horizon. For the backup spot, we give the slight edge to Houston’s Yainer Diaz over more established options like Salvador Perez or Cal Raleigh. The 25-year-old mashed 23 HR in just 104 games last year and will have plenty of chances to put up huge numbers in the Astros’ star-studded lineup.
American League First Basemen
Starter: Triston Casas (BOS)
Backup: Spencer Torkelson (DET)
Two young sluggers on the rise take the two first base spots in the American League. There weren’t many hitters better than Boston’s Triston Casas over the second half of last season. In 54 games after the All-Star break, Casas slashed .317/.417/.617 with 15 HR. If he keeps that up, Casas will emerge as one of the premiere power hitters in the AL East. Torkelson saw a similar uptick over the latter half of the year. The former No. 1 overall pick for the Tigers hit 19 HR after the break — tied for 2nd in the American League during that stretch. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been named an All-Star each of the past three seasons, but his numbers have tailed off each year and we could see him just missing the cut in ’24.
American League Second Basemen
Starter: Marcus Semien (TEX)
Backup: Zack Gelof (OAK)
Is there a more underrated player in baseball than Marcus Semien? Texas’ everyday second baseman has more top-3 MVP finishes than he does All-Star appearances. He’s missed just one game (not counting the COVID year) since 2019 and is an exceptional two-way player. He gets the starting nod carrying over from a stellar postseason performance. Eight-time All-Star José Altuve may very well end up making this roster, but we want to give some credit to a rising star in Oakland. Zack Gelof burst onto the scene last year for the A’s, hitting 14 HR and swiping 14 bags in just 69 games. He’s a terrific talent, and the most likely candidate to be Oakland’s lone representative in the All-Star Game this year.
American League Third Basemen
Starter: José Ramírez (CLE)
Backup: Rafael Devers (BOS)
Two of the most consistent hitters in the game. José Ramírez is a lock for All-Star any year he’s healthy. He’s been named to the team five times since 2017 and has six top-10 MVP finishes to his name. His dynamic playstyle and endearing personality are a perfect fit for such an event. Boston’s Rafael Devers fills in as the backup for similar reasons. The 27-year-old World Series winner lives to hit baseballs. Devers’ .873 OPS since ’21 ranks 9th among hitters (minimum 400 games played).
American League Shortstops
Starter: Bo Bichette (TOR)
Backup: Corey Seager (TEX), Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)
Bo Bichette has been a model of consistency since getting called up to the Big Leagues. A lifetime .299 hitter, Bichette boasts an elite hit tool, plenty of power, and solid speed. He’s been named an All-Star twice before but will get his first chance to start the Midseason Classic in ’24. Right behind him is the reigning World Series MVP, Corey Seager, who is among the very best hitters in baseball. Only injuries can slow down the sweet-swinging lefty, as he’s missed 121 games over the last three years. For the final spot, 23-year-old Bobby Witt Jr. represents the Royals. And, this isn’t just to appease the MLB’s rule of each team needing at least one player in the All-Star Game. Witt is more than talented enough to make it on his merit. The rising star slashed .301/.343/.563 with 16 HR and 22 SB in the second half last season.
American League Outfield
Starter: Aaron Judge (NYY), Mike Trout (LAA), Julio Rodríguez (SEA)
Backup: Juan Soto (NYY), Luis Robert Jr. (CWS), Josh Lowe (TB), Kyle Tucker (HOU)
The American League outfield boasts some of the best all-around players in the game today. Aaron Judge and Mike Trout are no-brainer inclusions. Though, staying on the field has been an issue for both of their careers. If either misses time in May/June, a spot could be freed up for a dark horse candidate. We expect Juan Soto to put up plenty of numbers in New York. Luis Robert Jr. and Kyle Tucker appear to be yearly inclusions on this roster. For the final spot, there was a debate between two Tampa Bay outfielders. While it may surprise some, Lowe ended up having a better season than Randy Arozarena last year. The 26-year-old Lowe is a power-speed threat who could become a household name by this time next year.
American League Designated Hitters
Starter: Yordan Álvarez(HOU)
Backup: Masataka Yoshida (BOS)
Yordan Álvarez will make his third All-Star team in 2024. Houston’s slugger boasts a career OPS+ (adjusted for ballpark factors) of 165 — only Mike Trout (173) boasts a higher mark among active players. He’s a power hitter who is just under .300 AVG for his career. What more can you say about him? Last year, Oakland’s Brent Rooker rode a strong first half into an All-Star spot. But, the Oakland DH fell off hard to end the season, and it’s unlikely we’ll see him back for the Midseason Classic in ’24. Boston’s Masataka Yoshida is entering his second season state-side and proved last year that he can hang with elite pitching. Now that he’s gotten comfortable, except Yoshida to be among the league leaders in batting average while providing 20-plus HR power.
American League Starting Pitchers
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Starter: Gerrit Cole (NYY)
Rotation: Joe Ryan (MIN), George Kirby (SEA), Corbin Burnes (BAL), Kevin Gausman (TOR), Grayson Rodriguez (BAL), Tarik Skubal (DET)
Reigning Cy Young Gerrit Cole takes the top spot after a marvelous year with a league-leading 2.63 ERA and 0.981 WHIP. He remains one of the most intimidating hurlers in baseball but has developed crucial nuances that will allow him to pitch at a high level well into his 30’s. Only one Mariner makes the cut in Kirby, as Luis Castillo narrowly misses out due to Corbin Burnes’ presence in the AL with the Orioles. Joe Ryan narrowly edges out teammate Pablo López, as we project a huge bounce-back year for the former.
Toronto’s Gausman is the best bet to lead the AL in strikeouts and has a strong 3.15 ERA over the last four seasons. Rounding out the rotation are two first-timers in Baltimore’s Rodriguez and Detroit’s Skubal. The former first-round pick Rodriguez shook off a terrible May and ended the year strong for the O’s. Skubal was limited due to injury last season (2.80 ERA in 80.1 IP), but is one of the most devastating left-handed pitchers in the league when he’s available.
American League Relievers
Bullpen: Yennier Canó (BAL), Josh Hader (HOU), Emmanuel Clase (CLE), Jhoan Duran (MIN), Chris Martin (BOS)
Good luck getting anything going against the American League bullpen. Josh Hader was added for good measure. The five-time NL All-Star will get a crack at making the AL roster for the first time in his career. Emmanuel Clase and Jhoan Duran are both flamethrowers who will be among the league leaders in saves. Yennier Canó was unhittable at points for the Orioles last season and may get a chance to land the full-time closing gig with Felix Bautista on the mend for the season. The last spot goes to Chris Martin, who was arguably the most efficient reliever in all of baseball last season. The 37-year-old journeyman finished 14th in WAR (a cumulative stat) among AL pitchers, and every player ranked ahead of him pitched at least twice as many innings.
National League Roster
Starting Lineup
C – Will Smith (LAD)
1B – Matt Olson (ATL)
2B – Mookie Betts (LAD)
3B – Austin Riley (ATL)
SS – Trea Turner (PHI)
OF – Corbin Carroll (ARI)
OF – Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF – Fernando Tatís Jr. (SDP)
DH – Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
Bench
C – Gabriel Moreno (ARI), 1B – Rhys Hoskins (MIL), 2B – Ozzie Albies (ATL), 3B – Nolan Arenado (STL), SS – Francisco Lindor (NYM), SS – CJ Abrams (WAS), OF – Nolan Jones (COL), OF – Ian Happ (CHC), OF – Michael Harris II (ATL), OF – Bryan Reynolds (PIT), DH – Bryce Harper (PHI)
Starting Pitchers
SP – Spencer Strider (ATL), SP – Jesús Luzardo (MIA), SP – Bobby Miller (LAD), SP – Logan Webb (SFG), SP – Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD), SP – Hunter Greene (CIN), SP – Zac Gallen (ARI)
Relievers
RP – David Bednar (PIT), RP – Brusdar Graterol (LAD), RP – Devin Williams (MIL), RP – Ryan Helsley (STL), RP – Paul Sewald (ARI)
American League Roster
Starting Lineup
C – Adley Rutschman (BAL)
1B – Triston Casas (BOS)
2B – Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B – José Ramírez (CLE)
SS – Bo Bichette (TOR)
OF – Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF – Mike Trout (LAA)
OF – Julio Rodríguez (SEA)
DH – Yordan Álvarez (HOU)
Bench
C – Yainer Diaz (HOU), 1B – Spence Torkelson (DET), 2B – Zack Gelof (OAK), 3B – Rafael Devers (BOS), SS – Corey Seager (TEX), SS – Bobby Witt Jr. (KCR), OF – Juan Soto (NYY), OF – Luis Robert Jr. (CWS), OF – Kyle Tucker (HOU), OF – Josh Lowe (TBR), DH – Masataka Yoshida (BOS)
Starting Pitchers
SP – Gerrit Cole (NYY), SP – Joe Ryan (MIN), SP – George Kirby (SEA), SP – Corbin Burnes (BAL), SP – Kevin Gausman (TOR), SP – Grayson Rodriguez (BAL), SP – Tarik Skubal (DET)
Relievers
RP – Yennier Canó (BAL), RP – Josh Hader (HOU), RP – Emmanuel Clase (CLE), RP – Jhoan Duran (MIN), RP – Chris Martin (BOS)
