Here’s a quick breakdown of the entire American League All-Star roster – from the starters and reserves to the pitchers – ahead of the Midsummer Classic. Meanwhile, check out our preview of the NL All-Stars here.
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2016 MLB American League All-Star Team Preview
Starters
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Salvador Perez | Kansas City Royals |
| 1B | Eric Hosmer | Kansas City Royals |
| 2B | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros |
| SS | Xander Bogaerts | Boston Red Sox |
| 3B | Manny Machado | Baltimore Orioles |
| OF | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels |
| OF | Jackie Bradley, Jr. | Boston Red Sox |
| OF | Mookie Betts | Boston Red Sox |
| DH | David Ortiz | Boston Red Sox |
There isn’t an overwhelming amount of power in the American League’s starting lineup, although David Ortiz, Mike Trout, and Manny Machado can all go deep. Instead, this team is littered with outstanding contact hitters who are also very handy with their gloves.
Everyone save for catcher Sal Perez is batting .300 or higher. Meanwhile, Trout, along with the Red Sox’s young trio of Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Mookie Betts, don’t have Gold Gloves, but all are above average defenders for their positions.
Reserves
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Stephen Vogt | Oakland Athletics |
| C | Matt Wieters | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1B | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers |
| 2B | Robinson Cano | Seattle Mariners |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays |
| IF | Eduardo Núñez | Minnesota Twins |
| SS | Francisco Lindor | Cleveland Indians |
| OF | Carlos Beltran | New York Yankees |
| OF | Ian Desmond | Texas Rangers |
| OF | Michael Saunders | Toronto Blue Jays |
| OF | Mark Trumbo | Baltimore Orioles |
| DH | Edwin Encarnacion | Toronto Blue Jays |
The AL may not have too much power to start, but it does have some big bats in reserve. Robinson Cano (21), Josh Donaldson (23) and Edwin Encarnacion (23) are all inside the top 12 in the majors in home runs. And of course, they have the top masher, Mark Trumbo, who has 28 homers so far this season. Carlos Beltran (.299, 19 HRs), Ian Desmond (.322, 15 HRs, 55 RBIs) and Michael Saunders (.298, 16 HRs) are also all having very solid seasons with the bat.
Pitchers
| Player | Hand | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Dellin Betances | Right | New York Yankees |
| Brad Brach | Right | Baltimore Orioles |
| Zach Britton | Left | Baltimore Orioles |
| Alex Colome | Right | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Cole Hamels | Left | Texas Rangers |
| Will Harris | Right | Houston Astros |
| Kelvin Herrera | Right | Kansas City Royals |
| Corey Kluber | Right | Cleveland Indians |
| Andrew Miller | Left | New York Yankees |
| Jose Quintana | Left | Chicago White Sox |
| Chris Sale | Left | Chicago White Sox |
| Aaron Sanchez | Right | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Steven Wright | Right | Boston Red Sox |
The back of the AL’s bullpen has taken quite a hit with the injuries to closers Wade Davis and Craig Kimbrel. However, AL manager Net Yost can still call on the likes of Zach Britton – 27 saves this season for the O’s – and Andrew Miller in the later innings.
However, the bigger concern could be the AL’s lack of ace-caliber starters, especially now that Danny Salazar won’t be able to pitch. That’s likely why the AL is a slight +103 underdog to win the game.
White Sox ace Chris Sale will likely be the team’s starter, but he’s given up 12 runs in 12 innings over two starts this July. Reigning AL Cy Young Corey Kluber – who was only an injury replacement – and Cole Hamels have also been somewhat inconsistent this season.
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