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MLB All-Star Game: American League Looks to Maintain Their Grip on National

Senior Circuit Hoping to Snap Nine-Game Slide versus AL

· Jul 11 - 5 minutes read

The National League has not won the All-Star Game since 2012 in Kansas City. Each of those games have been decided by three runs or fewer, but it’s always the AL in the end. A couple sixth-inning home runs lifted the AL side to a 3-2 victory at Dodger Stadium a year ago. The action shifts to Seattle this year, as the Emerald City plays host for the first time since 2001.

It’s always a great night for some online gambling, even if the game hasn’t mattered much for years and just about anything can happen. We’ll try to look a bit closer to see if we can find something to help out with your wagers.

MLB All-Star Game: American League Looks to Maintain Their Grip on National — Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Brave | Steph chambers/getty images/afp

Rangers Quintet Leads American League Roster

The Texas Rangers have raced to the top spot in the American League West. Five reasons why are Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Josh Jung, Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim, who make up more than half of the AL’s starting lineup. That includes three of the starting nine’s four infielders in Semien, Seager and Jung.

Nathan Eovaldi, who has thrust himself into the AL Cy Young mix, rounds out the Rangers’ contributions in Seattle.

The junior circuit is down a couple of massive names in Mike Trout and Aaron Judge, both of whom will miss this because of injury. That leaves Shohei Ohtani as the one true superstar in the AL lineup, as he’ll serve as the designated hitter and bat second behind Semien.

There are a couple of other first-timers in the starting lineup in Austin Hays of Baltimore and Yandy Diaz of Tampa Bay. That leaves the AL short on experience relative to most years, which could be a factor when you’re making your MLB picks.

Gerrit Cole gets the starting nod for the AL. He is 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA on the season and owns a 1.40 mark in six career outings in Seattle. Cole is making his sixth All-Star Game appearance. The only other AL pitcher with more than three is reliever Kenley Jansen, leaving this staff – like the lineup – a tad less experienced than years past.

Braves, Betts Lead Starry NL Squad

The MLB lines still favor the AL, but this is a rather loaded NL club that might have enough to break the losing streak. At the forefront is Ronald Acuna Jr., who is pushing for 40 home runs and perhaps 75 stolen bases in a monster campaign that is stealing many of the MLB news headlines.

He’ll be backed up by Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Between Acuna, Freeman and Betts, the NL has three of the top four players in the majors in terms of OPS occupying the top three spots in their lineup.

Luis Arraez and his .383 average sit in the sixth spot in the order and Rookie of the Year favorite Corbin Carroll – a Seattle kid – is ready to wreak havoc in the eighth spot. Veteran sluggers J.D. Martinez and Nolan Arenado provided plenty of power and experience in the middle of what is a loaded lineup.

Consider this incredible combination of power and speed when making your bet online.

Zac Gallen starts for the NL side. He is 11-3 with a 3.04 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but will be making his debut in the Midsummer Classic. That may be the main reason the NL is +1½ on the MLB odds sheet. We like the bullpen a bit more on this side and that’s where the game might be won anyway.

Prediction

It’s impossible to know how managers Rob Thomson and Dusty Baker will utilize their rosters. A handful of players won’t even get on the field after the pregame introductions. Keep an eye on who’s left on the benches as things change and you can probably nail something with your MLB live betting.

One item to consider is the fact that pitching has largely controlled matters in this event over the years. During the AL’s nine-game run, the games have produced an average of 6.9 runs per game. The one “slugfest” in the bunch was an 8-6 game that required extra innings.

Taking the under, set at 7½, is a prudent choice.

As for who wins, we think this could be the year for the NL. They have the bigger stars on the field with the exception of Ohtani, who won’t be able to pitch in this one. That lineup with Acuna, Freeman and Betts will get some runs before it yields to the reserves and a bullpen featuring dominant arms such as Devin Williams and Josh Hader will get those big outs late.

Bet now on National League 4, American League 2