The Midsummer Classic is back for the 92nd time as the American League will take on the National League for baseball bragging rights. The National League will host this game at Dodger Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.
On Monday, the National League already got a boost as Washington National Juan Soto won the Home Run Derby over the Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez, but the National League is looking to break the American League’s eight-game winning streak.
After the All-Star game was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, it returned last year with the American League picking up from where it left off, winning the game 5-2. Shohei Ohtani picked up the win last year, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the game’s MVP.
Despite the losing streak, the National League comes in as the favorites. They are -116 to win while the American League’s moneyline sits at -104. The over/under for total runs sits at eight.
American League Looking To Continue Streak
After dominating the All-Star game for almost a decade, the American League has no intentions of letting up this year. With a roster full of sluggers, this team is one of the most powerful it has ever been. Astros’ manager Dusty Baker, who is managing the A.L., will have a tough time putting together this collection of sluggers.
One of the most dominant hitters that Baker will have in the starting lineup is the Yankees’ Aaron Judge. The top overall vote getter, Judge is hitting .284/.364/.618 with 33 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 74 runs scored, and eight stolen bases.
On the mound, the American League will send lefty Shane McClanahan to start this one. In 18 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, he is 10-3 with a 1.71 ERA, 0.795 WHIP, and has 147 strikeouts in 110.2 innings of work.
While the American League is very deep, they are going to be missing some key weapons. Mike Trout was recently put on the injured list and will miss this game, while Jose Altuve has also decided to withdraw from the game. On the mound, both Justin Verlander and Shohei Ohtani (who will still serve as designated hitter) won’t be available due to their recent starts.
National League Looks To End Drought
The American League has won every All-Star game since 2013, but prior to that, the National League had won three in a row. Still, having lost 20 of the last 24 games, the National League is ready to end their drought and get back into the win column.
On the mound, lefty Clayton Kershaw will be taking the ball for Brian Snitker’s team. This season, Kershaw is 7-2 in 12 starts with a 2.13 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and has 75 strikeouts in 71.2 innings of work.
At the plate, the National League boosts a plethora of talent with the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr (.265 avg, 8 HR, 22 RBI), Paul Goldschmidt (.330 avg., 20 HR, 70 RBI), and Manny Machado (.303 avg., 15 HR, 51 RBI).
Keep an eye out on the hometown favorites as the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (.265 avg, 20 HR, 47 RBI) and Trea Turner (.306 avg, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB) will also be starting in this game.
Take The American League To Win
While the All-Star game feels like it should be a coin flip due to the nature of the best of the best playing on both sides, the American League has been utterly dominant over the last couple of decades.
While the National League has the starpower to put an end to that this year, it is hard to ignore the value that there is in taking the American League as the underdogs.
It certainly hurts that they will be without some superstars, but the American League still has more than enough power to run with and defeat the National League.
Take the American League at -104 on the moneyline.
