Early predictions for 2019 MLB All-Star rosters
With Major League Baseball releasing its All-Star ballot Tuesday, theScore's MLB editors take an early guess at who might be named to the American and National League teams. The 2019 All-Star Game takes place July 9 in Cleveland.
American League
Starters
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Gary Sanchez | NYY |
| 1B | Luke Voit | NYY |
| 2B | Michael Chavis | BOS |
| 3B | Alex Bregman | HOU |
| SS | Gleyber Torres | NYY |
| OF | Joey Gallo | TEX |
| OF | George Springer | HOU |
| OF | Mike Trout | LAA |
| DH | Dan Vogelbach | SEA |
Our early ballot features no shortage of newcomers. Voit, Chavis, Gallo, and Vogelbach are not only first-time All-Stars but also first-time starters. Torres will be the youngest starter at 22 years old, while no player over 30 cracks the opening lineup. Trout, who makes his eighth straight appearance, is the only starter to return from last year's team.
Bench
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Josh Phegley | OAK |
| 1B | C.J. Cron | MIN |
| 3B | Matt Chapman | OAK |
| 3B | Rafael Devers | BOS |
| 3B | Hunter Dozier | KC |
| SS | Jorge Polanco | MIN |
| SS | Carlos Correa | HOU |
| OF | J.D. Martinez | BOS |
| OF | Trey Mancini | BAL |
| OF | Austin Meadows | TB |
| OF | Mookie Betts | BOS |
Pitchers
| Role | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| SP | Justin Verlander | HOU |
| SP | Matthew Boyd | DET |
| SP | Charlie Morton | TB |
| SP | Mike Minor | TEX |
| SP | Marcus Stroman | TOR |
| SP | Jake Odorizzi | MIN |
| SP | Frankie Montas | OAK |
| SP | Lucas Giolito | CWS |
| SP | Jose Berrios | MIN |
| RP | Ken Giles | TOR |
| RP | Aroldis Chapman | NYY |
| RP | Shane Greene | DET |
| RP | Brad Hand | CLE |
| RP | Ryan Pressly | HOU |
The AL pitching staff features plenty of new faces. None of the last four AL Cy Young winners land on the roster, while Chris Sale sees his streak of seven straight appearances snap following a rough first month. Instead, six starters are named to their first All-Star game. The bullpen will be anchored by a six-time All-Star in Chapman, while Ryan Pressly will attend the event for the first time in his seven-year career.
National League
Starters
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Willson Contreras | CHC |
| 1B | Josh Bell | PIT |
| 2B | Ketel Marte | ARI |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | COL |
| SS | Javier Baez | CHC |
| OF | Cody Bellinger | LAD |
| OF | Christian Yelich | MIL |
| OF | Joc Pederson | LAD |
Bellinger and Yelich are no-brainers to start in the Midsummer Classic. Bell is having a monster season and surpassed his home run total from last year in May. Joining him as a first-time All-Star will be Marte, who has been a revelation this season in Arizona. It's easy to forget about Pederson on a loaded Dodgers team; however, he's easily been one of the best offensive players in the Senior Circuit. No Bryce Harper and Manny Machado as the two superstars aren't putting up the big numbers - yet - that many expected with their new teams.
Bench
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | J.T. Realmuto | PHI |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | ATL |
| 1B | Pete Alonso | NYM |
| 1B | Anthony Rizzo | CHC |
| 2B | Mike Moustakas | MIL |
| SS | Paul DeJong | STL |
| 3B | Anthony Rendon | WAS |
| 3B | Kris Bryant | CHC |
| OF | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL |
| OF | Michael Conforto | NYM |
| OF | Andrew McCutchen | PHI |
Pitchers
| Role | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| SP | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD |
| SP | Luis Castillo | CIN |
| SP | Zack Greinke | ARI |
| SP | Chris Paddack | SD |
| SP | Mike Soroka | ATL |
| SP | Caleb Smith | MIA |
| SP | Stephen Strasburg | WAS |
| SP | Max Scherzer | WAS |
| SP | Patrick Corbin | WAS |
| RP | Kirby Yates | SD |
| RP | Felipe Vazquez | PIT |
| RP | Josh Hader | MIL |
| RP | Will Smith | SF |
| RP | Edwin Diaz | NYM |
Lots of young talent with electric stuff. Starters Paddack, Castillo, Soroka, and Smith will all be first-time All-Stars. So will Ryu at age 32. The Washington Nationals' three-headed monster gets the nod despite the club's underwhelming performance this season. The NL's group of relievers is the stuff batters' nightmares are made of, with Hader, Vasquez, Diaz, and Yates all capable of finishing the game.