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American League vs. National League: 2017 MLB All-Star Game Preview
Where: Marlins Park, Miami, FL
When: Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: American League (+105) vs. National League (-115); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the American League
For the first time in six years, the American League will not have two-time league MVP Mike Trout as a part of the roster. Last year’s All-Star Game MVP, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, didn’t make the cut as well.
Regardless of Trout and Hosmer’s absence, the American League still boasts a commanding record at the Midsummer Classic. The AL has won 13 of the last 16 editions of the All-Star Game (one tie) since the start of the new millennium, including the last four installments of the event.
The AL roster also has some of the best hitters this 2017 season, with current batting title leader in Houston’s Jose Altuve (.347 batting average) and the front-runner for the home run race in New York’s Aaron Judge (30 homers) headlining the batting order.
It also goes without saying that the team has a superb one-two punch in the starting rotation. Kansas City’s Jason Vargas (12-3, 2.62 ERA) and Boston’s Chris Sale (11-4, 2.75 ERA) are numbers one and two on the AL’s list of wins and earned-run-average leaders to date, respectively.
Betting on the National League
The National League hasn’t been as competitive as its counterpart during the Midsummer Classic, winning in just three of the 17 installments of the event since 2000; all in succession between the 2010 and 2012 seasons.
At the top of the NL’s starting rotation is Washington’s Max Scherzer, who’s the current leader in the majors with his dazzling 2.10 ERA for the season. But while having Scherzer is certainly a plus, starters in All-Star Games don’t see that much work in general. As such, the NL will sorely miss the services of three-time Cy Young Award-winner, Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers’ top ace last saw action on Friday before the All-Star break, prompting him to take some needed rest and miss out on the Midsummer Classic altogether.
Nevertheless, the NL has plenty of firepower on offense to make up for their pitching corps. The team’s batting order is stacked with heavy hitters mostly comprised of standouts from the Nationals and the Rockies, with Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado being one of only three players with 70 runs batted-in for the season at the heart of the batting order. Miami’s very own outfielder, Marcell Ozuna, is the other 70-RBI man on the NL starting roster looking to deliver some fireworks in front of the home crowd.
Writer’s Prediction
The American League (+105) continues its dominance at the Midsummer Classic, 6-4.
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