2015 MLB All-Star Game preview: Lineups, starting pitchers and more

The 86th All-Star Game is tonight in Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. Get ready for the Midsummer Classic with Jay Jaffe's preview, including lineups, stats, the starting pitchers and more.

Author:
Jay Jaffe
Publish date:
Jul 14, 2015

Facing a lineup featuring three Royals, ex-Royals Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and his National League teammates will try to break the American League's recent dominance of the Midsummer Classic tonight on Fox at 7:30 p.m. ET. The AL has won two in a row and 14 of the last 18, including nine of 12 since the event became tied to home-field advantage in the World Series. Despite that recent dominance, the NL still holds the upper hand in the all-time series, 43–40–2. The home team—this time the NL, since the game is being played at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark—holds a 45–38 edge, though it has won just three of the last 10 contests.

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Lineups

American League

1. Mike Trout, CF, Angels
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays
3. Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels
4. Nelson Cruz, DH, Mariners
5. Lorenzo Cain, RF, Royals
6. Adam Jones, LF, Orioles
7. Salvador Perez, C, Royals
8. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
9. Alcides Escobar, SS, Royals
Dallas Keuchel, SP, Astros

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Inevitably, injuries have forced a few changes from among those players voted in by the fans. Alex Gordon, who was elected as a starting outfielder, suffered a Grade 2 left groin strain while colliding with the Kauffman Stadium scoreboard in leftfield last Wednesday and could be out for eight weeks. Jones was named to start by dint of having received the most votes among the AL reserve outfielders, running his streak of All-Star Game starts to three; this was his fifth selection overall. Meanwhile, Pujols is replacing Miguel Cabrera, who is on the disabled list due to a calf strain that will sideline him for six weeks. It's the 35-year-old slugger's first appearance for the AL, his first starting nod since 2010 and his 10th appearance overall.

Despite those changes, the AL lineup does have a considerable air of familiarity to it, as Cruz, Donaldson, Perez and Trout all started last year, along with Jones. This is Trout's third straight start (and fourth straight appearance) as well, though his first in centerfield after two in left. Cruz (a four-time All-Star) and Donaldson (a two-timer) are wearing different uniforms than last year, with the former having signed with the Mariners as a free agent and the latter traded by the Athletics in one of the winter's more surprising blockbusters. Cain and Escobar are both making their first appearances, and Altuve is making his third, although it's his first start.

National League

1. Andrew McCutchen, CF, Pirates
2. Todd Frazier, 3B, Reds
3. Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks
5. Buster Posey, C, Giants
6. Anthony Rizzo, DH, Cubs
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS, Cardinals
8. Joc Pederson, LF, Dodgers
9. DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Rockies
Zack Greinke, SP, Dodgers

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The NL's lineup has required even more changes than that of the AL due to a trio of injuries. Matt Holliday, out since June 8 due to a quad strain, was replaced by the rookie Pederson, who has already wowed the Cincinnati crowd with a runner-up finish in Monday night's Home Run Derby. Giancarlo Stanton, the NL's leading home run hitter with 27, suffered a broken hamate bone in his left wrist on June 27 and was replaced by McCutchen, who led off last year for the NL and is making his fifth straight All-Star appearance. Dee Gordon, who dislocated his left thumb on Saturday, was replaced by LeMahieu, who's making his All-Star debut.

From among the rest, turnover is something of a theme, in part due to injuries and aging. Goldschmidt is the only returning starter from 2014; he's making his third All-Star appearance in a row. Harper is the only player here who started in '13; he missed last year due to injury and is making the third appearance of his career. Posey, the only player here who started in '12, is making his third appearance overall. Frazier, who won Monday's Home Run Derby, and Rizzo are both making their second straight appearance and first start. Peralta is making his first start after being selected as a reserve twice for the AL.

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Starting Pitchers

AL manager Ned Yost chose Keuchel after considering Chris Archer, 2014 starter Felix Hernandez, David Price and Chris Sale, with Sonny Gray ruled out because he started on Sunday. The Astros' 27-year-old lefty currently leads the league in innings (137 1/3), WAR (4.7) and—because let's face it, we know which metric Yost looks at first—wins (11, tied with Hernandez). He's second in ERA at 2.23, behind Gray's 2.04, and has thrown more scoreless starts (six, including two complete-game shutouts) than any other AL pitcher. This is his first All-Star selection of any type.

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On the NL side, where Clayton Kershaw's 41-inning scoreless streak and 1.78 ERA were not enough for 2014 NL All-Star manager Mike Matheny to anoint him the starter for last year's game in Minneapolis, teammate Greinke—currently amid a 35 2/3 inning scoreless streak and carrying a 1.39 ERA—got the nod from '15 skipper Bruce Bochy. For as strong a case as the Dodgers' 31-year-old righty made via his first half, he benefited from top alternative Max Scherzer starting for the Nationals on Sunday, thus making him ineligible to pitch on Tuesday night. The NL leader in innings (132), FIP (2.20) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.7) and the owner of a 16 1/3-inning hitless streak — a stretch that included a near-perfect game against the Pirates—Scherzer held an edge in even more statistical categories until a rough start on June 7. As things now stand, Greinke holds the NL lead in WAR (5.5, with Scherzer second at 4.7) as well as ERA.

Greinke has thrown 17 quality starts out of 18, allowed one run or fewer in 14 of his 18 starts, and more than three runs just once, in Colorado on June 2. His seven scoreless starts this year are an MLB high, and while he has yet to complete a game, he has thrown at least six innings in every start. As Jon Tayler pointed out after Greinke's eight-inning, one-hit showing against the Phillies, he has the lowest first-half ERA since 1968, when Bob Gibon (1.06), Luis Tiant (1.24) and Don Drysdale (1.37) all carried even more microscopic marks into the break. Drysdale had recently completed his record-setting 58 2/3-inning scoreless streak, while Gibson was en route to a modern-record 1.12 ERA for the season.

AL Reserves

Position players:Russell Martin (C, Blue Jays), Stephen Vogt (C, A's), Mark Teixeira (1B, Yankees), Brian Dozier (2B, Twins), Jason Kipnis (2B, Indians), Jose Iglesias (SS, Tigers), Manny Machado (3B, Orioles), Mike Moustakas (3B, Royals), Brock Holt (IF, Red Sox), Brett Gardner (OF, Yankees), J.D. Martinez (OF, Tigers), Prince Fielder (DH, Rangers)

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Pitchers: Chris Archer (SP, Rays), Dellin Betances (RP, Yankees), Brad Boxberger (RP, Rays), Zach Britton (RP, Orioles), Wade Davis (RP, Royals), Felix Hernandez (SP, Mariners), Kelvin Herrera (RP, Royals), Darren O'Day (RP, Orioles), Glen Perkins (RP, Twins), David Price (SP, Tigers), Chris Sale (SP, White Sox), Hector Santiago (SP, Angels)

Injured/Ineligible to play: Jose Bautista (OF, Blue Jays), Miguel Cabrera (1B, Tigers), Alex Gordon (OF, Royals), Sonny Gray (SP, A's)

Gardner, making his well-deserved first All-Star appearance, was the injury replacement for Gordon. That dropped him out of the Final Vote competition, which was won by Moustakas. Dozier, who was also among the Final Vote candidates, was added to the roster to replace Bautista, who's sitting out due to a sore shoulder. Santiago was named to the roster to replace Gray, who started for the A's on Sunday.

NL Reserves

Position players:Yasmani Grandal (C, Dodgers), Yadier Molina (C, Cardinals), Adrian Gonzalez (1B, Dodgers), Joe Panik (2B, Giants), Brandon Crawford (SS, Giants), Troy Tulowitzki (SS, Rockies), Nolan Arenado (3B, Rockies), Kris Bryant (3B, Cubs), Ryan Braun (OF, Brewers), A.J. Pollock (OF, Diamondbacks), Justin Upton (OF, Padres)

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Pitchers: Madison Bumgarner (SP, Giants), A.J. Burnett (SP, Pirates), Aroldis Chapman (RP, Reds), Gerrit Cole (SP, Pirates), Jacob deGrom (SP, Mets), Clayton Kershaw (SP, Dodgers), Carlos Martinez (SP, Cardinals), Mark Melancon (RP, Pirates), Shelby Miller (SP, Braves), Jonathan Papelbon (RP, Phillies), Francisco Rodriguez (RP, Brewers), Trevor Rosenthal (RP, Cardinals), Michael Wacha (SP, Cardinals)

Injured/Ineligible: Dee Gordon (2B, Marlins), Matt Holliday (OF, Cardinals), Max Scherzer (SP, Nationals),

Martinez won the NL Final Vote, while Kershaw, another candidate in the contest, was named to the team to replace Scherzer. Tulowitzki was added to the roster to replace Gordon, and Braun was added to replace Holliday.

GALLERY: The All-Star Game's most memorable moments

MLB All-Star Game Memorable Moments

July 6, 1933 | First Game's First Home Run

Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

At 38 years old, Babe Ruth hit the first home run in All-Star Game history, a two-run shot off the Cardinals' Bill Hallahan in the third inning that made the difference in the AL's 4-2 victory.

July 10, 1934 | King Carl

Future Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell of the Giants made All-Star history by striking out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in succession at the Polo Grounds in New York.

July 8, 1941 | Walk It Off, Ted

Joe DiMaggio (5) was on base when Ted Williams hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lift the AL to a 7-5 victory in the midsummer classic in Detroit's old Briggs Stadium.

July 12, 1955 | Stan the Man

Stan Musial (left) broke a 5-5 tie with his walk-off home run in the 12th inning to cap a late comeback in Milwaukee by the National League, which had been down 5-0 through six innings.

July 14, 1970 | Down Goes Fosse

Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

In a play that came to epitomize the play-to-win attitude of All-Star Games past, Pete Rose scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th by barreling into catcher Ray Fosse at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

July 13, 1971 | Reggie's Mammoth Shot

Reggie Jackson's pinch hit two-run homer that hit the light tower of Tiger Stadium in Detroit is believed to be one of the longest home runs ever hit, estimated at over 530 feet.

July 6, 1983 | First Grand Slam

The AL won for the first time since 1971 as the Angels' Fred Lynn hit the first grand slam in All-Star Game history. Lynn's shot off Atlee Hammaker came after the NL intentionally walked Robin Yount at old Comiskey Park.

July 11, 1989 | Bo Knows

Royals slugger and two-sport star Bo Jackson led off the bottom of the first at Anaheim Stadium with a home run off NL starter Rick Reuschel that keyed the AL's 5-3 victory and garnered Jackson MVP honors.

July 13, 1993 | Duck Kruk

One of the most vivid images of Randy Johnson's career is the first pitch fastball he flung over the head of John Kruk to the backstop. A spooked Kruk took the rest of his at-bat practically outside the batter's box and struck out.

July 11, 1995 | Mr. Marlin

Jeff Conine, the nascent Marlins' lone representative, hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning to give the NL a 3-2 win in Arlington, Texas, and stake a claim to the MVP trophy.

July 8, 1997 | Walker vs. Unit

Rockies slugger Larry Walker became a switch-hitter rather than face Randy Johnson from the left side of the plate at Cleveland's Jacobs Field.

July 13, 1999 | Splended Splinter

Boston legend Ted Williams was among 41 legends introduced before the 1999 game, but none elicited a bigger reaction than "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived".

July 13, 1999 | Pedro Overpowers

Pitching in his home ballpark of Fenway, Pedro Martinez became the first pitcher to strike out the first four batters in an All-Star Game. The MVP struck out five of the six batters he faced, and the AL won 4-1.

July 10, 2001 | Cal's Farewell

Playing in his 18th and final All-Star Game, Cal Ripken Jr. went deep off Chan Ho Park to win his second MVP award in the midsummer classic.

July 9, 2002 | Hunter Robs Bonds

The infamous tie in Milwaukee might have turned out differently had AL center fielder Torii Hunter not robbed Barry Bonds of a home run in the first inning.

July 15, 2003 | Hammerin' Hank

Texas third baseman Hank Blalock gave the AL home field advantage in the World Series with a stunning two-run home run off Eric Gagne at U.S. Cellular Field. Blalock became the 12th player to go deep in his first All-Star at-bat.

July 13, 2004 | Soriano's Blast

AL second baseman Alfonso Soriano dealt the crushing blow early with a three-run home run that capped a six-run first inning off hometown starter Roger Clemens of the Astros. Soriano was named MVP.

July 11, 2006 | Young Saves The Day

MVP Michael Young drove in the game-winning runs with a two-out triple in the ninth inning against NL closer Trevor Hoffman.

July 10, 2007 | Ichiro's Inside-The-Park Home Run

MVP Ichiro Suzuki's drive off the right-field wall at quirky AT&T Park bounced away from Ken Griffey Jr. for the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star game history. His two-run homer off Chris Young in the fifth inning put the AL ahead and the Americans held on for a 5-4 victory.

July 15-16, 2008 | Young Gets It Done ... Again

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; John Iacono for Sports Illustrated

The 79th Midsummer Classic was the longest in history, ending at 1:38 a.m. ET after four hours and 50 minutes of action. Two years after earning All-Star Game MVP honors by leading the American League to victory with a two-RBI triple in the ninth, Texas' Michael Young collected another game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly in the 15th. Young hit the ball to right field, and Justin Morneau tagged up and just beat Cory Hart's throw to home, extending the AL's unbeaten streak to a record 12 games.

July 14, 2009 | President Obama Throws Out the First Pitch

Before the AL extended its unbeaten streak to 13 at the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis, President Obama, wearing a jacket of the White Sox, his favorite team, became the fourth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game and the first since George H.W. Bush in 1992 in San Diego.

July 13, 2010 | McCann's game-winnng double

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

The NL snapped a string of 13 consecutive years without an All-Star Game victory thanks mostly to Braves catcher Brian McCann, whose three-run double in the seventh gave the Senior Circuit the lead for good in a 3-1 win. The game was played the same day longtime Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died at age 80.

July 16, 2013 | One Mo Time

In his 13th and final All-Star Game, baseball's all-time saves leader, Mariano Rivera, took his cue from Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and jogged on to a conspicuously empty field in the 8th inning. His American League teammates had delayed taking the field so the 43-year-old Rivera, who is retiring at year's end, could enjoy a prolonged and deserved standing ovation from 45,186 fans and nearly six-dozen of his playing peers at Citi Field. Although he didn't close the game, Rivera did pitch a perfect 8th inning and took home MVP honors after the AL's 3-0 win.

July 15, 2014 | Jeter's Fitting Farewell

The 2014 All-Star Game in Minnesota was about the Yankees' shortstop more than anything else. There was the voice of Bob Sheppard announcing Jeter's at-bats; there was “New York, New York” blaring over the stadium speakers; there were ovations you could hear all the way in Kalamazoo. Before his 14th and final All-Star Game, Jeter told his teammates "Remember every time you put your uniform on,” Jeter said as he stood in front of his locker, “because trust me, it goes quickly." The Yankees' captain went 2-for-2 with a run scored in the 5-3 AL win.