MLB All-Star Game betting guide: Can AL extend streak vs. favored NL?
This year's MLB All-Star Game could be one of the best in recent memory, with the top players from the American and National Leagues facing off at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver. The NL (-115) is the slight favorite over the AL (-105), and the over is juiced to -120 on a sky-high total of 10.5 runs.
Here's everything you need to know before betting this year's All-Star Game.
How to watch
- Who: American League vs. National League
- When: Tuesday, July 13 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Coors Field (Denver, Colorado)
- TV: FOX (U.S.), Sportsnet (Canada)
- Stream: fuboTV (U.S.), Sportsnet GO (Canada)
All-Star Game starters
| POSITION | AL | NL |
|---|---|---|
| C | Salvador Perez | J.T. Realmuto |
| 1B | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Freddie Freeman |
| 2B | Marcus Semien | Adam Frazier |
| 3B | Rafael Devers | Nolan Arenado |
| SS | Xander Bogaerts | Fernando Tatis Jr. |
| OF | Cedric Mullins | Bryan Reynolds |
| OF | Aaron Judge | Nick Castellanos |
| OF | Teoscar Hernandez | Jesse Winker |
| DH | Shohei Ohtani | |
| SP | Shane Bieber* | Corbin Burnes |
| SP | Gerrit Cole | Yu Darvish* |
| SP | Nathan Eovaldi | Jacob deGrom* |
| SP | Kyle Gibson | German Marquez |
| SP | Yusei Kikuchi | Trevor Rogers |
| SP | Lance Lynn | Zack Wheeler |
| SP | Carlos Rodon | Brandon Woodruff* |
| SP | Chris Bassitt | Walker Buehler |
| SP | Max Scherzer | |
| SP | Freddy Peralta | |
| SP | Taijuan Walker | |
| RP | Matt Barnes | Josh Hader |
| RP | Aroldis Chapman | Craig Kimbrel |
| RP | Liam Hendriks | Mark Melancon |
| RP | Ryan Pressly | Alex Reyes |
| RP | Gregory Soto |
*unlikely to play
All-Star Game history
| SEASON | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | AL | 4-3 |
| 2018 | AL | 8-6 |
| 2017 | AL | 2-1 |
| 2016 | AL | 4-2 |
| 2015 | AL | 6-3 |
| 2014 | AL | 5-3 |
| 2013 | AL | 3-0 |
| 2012 | NL | 8-0 |
| 2011 | NL | 5-1 |
| 2010 | NL | 3-1 |
| 2009 | AL | 4-3 |
| 2008 | AL | 4-3 |
| 2007 | AL | 5-4 |
| 2006 | AL | 3-2 |
| 2005 | AL | 7-5 |
| 2004 | AL | 9-4 |
| 2003 | AL | 7-6 |
| 2002 | Tie | 7-7 |
| 2001 | AL | 4-1 |
| 2000 | AL | 6-3 |
The American League has absolutely dominated this game in recent years, to the point that it's surprising oddsmakers haven't priced the AL as the favorite here on precedent alone. The AL's won seven straight contests and boasts a ridiculous 19-3-1 record dating back to 1997 - including a 13-8 win when this game was last held at Coors Field in 1998.
That hasn't deterred oddsmakers from pricing the NL as the favorite year in and year out. The AL has been favored just twice during its seven-game streak, winning twice as a plus-money underdog. The under has also been a red-hot bet, cashing in 11 of the last 14 contests, though that 1998 All-Star Game would have shattered any total on the board.
Who should you bet?
The AL is simply the better squad, even if you forget the history - which is both overwhelming and at least somewhat relevant given the large sample size. The team is also catching a better price from oddsmakers too.
It might be a different story if Jacob deGrom was pitching for the NL, which has seen its All-Star rotation decimated by injuries and scheduling issues. Corbin Burnes, Zack Wheeler, and Max Scherzer form a nice frontline trio, but they hardly overwhelm the likes of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Shohei Ohtani, while the AL's bullpen should give it a slight edge in the later innings.
Speaking of Ohtani, the AL features arguably the two hottest bats on the planet with him and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who became a household name with his performance in the 2019 Home Run Derby and is a good bet to put on a show in his first All-Star appearance. One of those players seems destined to bury a ball into the seats at Coors Field, and that could be enough to break things open.
This will also be the first All-Star Game since MLB's recent crackdown on foreign substances, which could mean one of the wilder exhibitions we've seen in years - especially with the thin air in Denver. A full-strength NL team might have been a better bet, but the AL's lineup should steal the show Tuesday.
Pick: AL (-105), over 10.5 (-120)
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.