Predictions for the National League All-Stars

Don’t be surprised if the home team is very well-represented when the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is played on July 19 in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League and some familiar names on the roster. They have players in the top five at every position in the most recent All-Star voting results.

Some new faces are emerging as potential starting pitchers. Some of the decisions on which pitcher gets to start in the game could be decided by how their turn in the rotation falls in the week before the game. Somebody who gets a start a couple days before the All-Star Game won’t be throwing in the contest.

Here is a breakdown of the most deserving players starting with the National League. One difference with the selection process is we stayed true to their positions. Rather than picking three outfielders to start, we went with the most deserving player at each of the three outfield slots.

Six of the top 11 players in the National League Most Valuable Player odds according to the MLB lines are not included among the most deserving starters. Not as many rookies are in contention to be All-Stars in the National League as are included in the American League All-Star predictions.

• Catcher

Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs: There hasn’t been much to cheer for Cubs fans but Contreras has been a definite bright spot. Already a two-time All-Star, Contreras is on pace to post his fourth season with more than 20 home runs. He leads all qualifying catchers with 58 hits, 12 home runs and a .505 slugging percentage. He has thrown out 35 percent of would-be base runners. Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers would back him up.

• First Base

Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals: Yes, Pete Alonso leads the National League with 20 home runs but Goldschmidt is putting up MVP-caliber numbers with a .339 batting average, 22 doubles, 17 home runs, and 60 RBIs.

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Although he had two seasons with 30 home runs with the Cardinals, this will be Goldschmidt’s first All-Star appearance since 2018, his final season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The MLB odds show Goldschmidt as the favorite at +175 in the National League Most Valuable Player race.

Colorado’s C.J. Cron has quietly put together a worthy All-Star resume as well with a .300 average, 34 extra-base hits (17 home runs) and 52 RBIs. Washington’s Josh Bell (.295, 11 home runs, 44 RBIs) could also be in the mix.

• Second Base

Jazz Chisholm, Miami Marlins: Chisholm has cooled off after a hot start as his average is down to .248 Still, he is one of the most exciting players in the majors. At his current pace, he would finish the season with 34 home runs and 27 stolen bases, so perhaps a 30-30 season isn’t out of the question. 

It is hard to ignore the .327 average by Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets. However, with 26 games started in the outfield, only a portion of his impressive statistics came while playing second base.

• Shortstop

Trea Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers: While some of his teammates have been rather streaky in the first half of the season, Turner has been a consistent producer. He is hitting .307 with 26 extra-base hits, 14 stolen bases, and 50 RBIs. 

Atlanta’s Danby Swanson continues to get better with each passing season. He’s batting .295 with 11 stolen bases, 25 extra-base hits, 44 runs and 38 RBIs.

• Third Base

Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: Machado is emerging as one of the front-runners for the National League Most Valuable Player award thanks to a .328 average, 48 runs, 18 doubles, 12 homers, 46 RBIs and seven stolen bases. He should be joined by both Austin Riley of Atlanta (.255 average, 18 home runs) and Nolan Arenado of St. Louis (.278, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs).

• Left Field

Joc Pederson, San Francisco Giants: His 15 home runs and 37 RBIs should be enough to get him on the team. Since we are staying true to the position and not just listing three outfielders as starters, he seems like the most deserving choice. Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs (.291 average, 25 extra-base hits) could be his top competition.

• Center Field

Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets: Somebody from the team with the best record in the National League deserves to be in the starting lineup. Nimmo has had his ups and downs. The 20 extra-base hits, 22 RBIs and .268 average would put him down the list of potential All-Stars in the American League. In the National League, there aren’t as many worthy candidates. 

If Arizona’s Alek Thomas had more than 142 at-bats, he might have been the choice. Bryan Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates is coming on after a tough start.

• Right Field

Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers: The numbers this season aren’t up to his normal standards. However, 53 runs, 13 doubles and 17 home runs make him the pick over Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. (15 extra-base hits in 41 games to go with a .275 average) and Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals (.316 average and .422 on-base percentage). Betts is currently leading the National League All-Star voting.

• Designated Hitter

Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: An injury has kept him from playing in the field, but it hasn’t impacted his hitting. Harper is batting .326 with 48 runs scored, another 48 driven in to go with nine stolen bases, 21 doubles and 15 home runs. 

Washington’s Nelson Cruz has tied for second among NL designated hitters with 38 RBIs after a horrible start.

• Starting Pitcher

Tony Gonsolin of the Los Angeles Dodgers (9-0, 1.58 ERA) and Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres (8-0, 1.59) should be the top candidates to get the starting nod. 

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (7-2, 1.72 ERA, 90 strikeouts) and Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes of Milwaukee (5-4, 2.31 ERA, a National League-best 110 strikeouts) should also be there. The MLB picks have Alcantara (+300) as the current favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award.

Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies (6-4, 2.77 ERA, 86 strikeouts) is another potential starting pitcher candidate, as is Carlos Rodon of the San Francisco Giants (6-4, 2.70 ERA, 101 strikeouts).

• Relievers

Milwaukee’s Josh Hader continues to be practically unhittable (0.87 ERA, .101 opposing batting average, 20 saves in 21 opportunities). 

Pittsburgh’s David Bednar (3-1, 1.34 ERA), Alexis Diaz of Cincinnati (2.40 ERA, 36 strikeouts in 30 innings), Ryan Helsley of St. Louis (2-0 0.33 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 27 innings), Arizona’s Joe Mantiply (1-0. 0.34 ERA) and A.J. Minter of Atlanta (3-1, 1.50 ERA, 39 strikeouts) would join Hader.