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MLB All-Star Game: Starting Lineups Announced

By Paul Ashley

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: The 2018 All-Star Game logo is seen on the field prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: The 2018 All-Star Game logo is seen on the field prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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MLB All-Star Game
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals prepares for a pitch during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on July 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Marlins won 10-2. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

I look forward to the MLB All-Star game every year. The best pitchers of the National League matchup against the best hitters of the American League. The best hitters of the NL matchup against the best pitchers of the AL. We also get to see players like Manny Machado hit 7th and players like Bryce Harper hit 6th.

The lineup decisions and the starting pitcher decisions for the MLB All-Star game are always interesting.  With so many phenomenal players in one game, it is not an insult to anyone to hit lower in the order or not start the game. It is more based on the opinion of the coaching staff on where each player should be placed.

This year’s MLB All-Star game will be played in Washington D.C., so there is no doubt Bryce Harper will be the most cheered player.  However, Dave Roberts decided to put Bryce Harper in the 6th spot of the order.  This may cause him to not hit until the 2nd inning.

Maybe this was just a calculated plan to not exhaust the crowd in the first inning.  Max Scherzer is starting the game for the National League, so the crowd will be hot from the first pitch.  If Scherzer only pitches one inning, there may be a slight lull in the crowd in the 2nd inning.  This is where an at-bat from Bryce Harper could reenergize the crowd in favor of the National League.

Even if this theory is way off, it is hard to argue with who was placed above Harper in the order, as the National League lineup is stacked.

According to MLB.com, Dave Roberts put together the following lineup:

1 – 2B – Javier Baez
2 – 3B – Nolan Arenado
3 – DH – Paul Goldschmidt
4 – 1B – Freddie Freeman
5 – LF – Matt Kemp
6 – CF – Bryce Harper
7 – RF – Nick Markakis
8 – SS – Brandon Crawford
9 – C – Willson Contreras

This starting lineup has a combined 144 Home Runs on the season.

The Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants are currently in a battle for the NL West.  However, with Arenado, Goldschmidt, Kemp, and Crawford all starting, each team will be cheering for each others players in this game.

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This National League lineup is definitely remarkable, but the American League lineup may have it beat in terms of offensive prowess.

According to MLB.com, A.J. Hinch put together the following lineup:

1 – RF – Mookie Betts
2 – 2B – Jose Altuve
3 – CF – Mike Trout
4 – DH – J.D. Martinez
5 – 3B – Jose Ramirez
6 – LF – Aaron Judge
7 – SS – Manny Machado
8 – 1B – Jose Abreu
9 – C – Salvador Perez

Both coaches decided to put their catcher in the 9th spot, but Hinch had a tough decision of where to put all of his power hitters. The 7th spot features a hitter with 24 Home Runs, the 6th spot features a hitter with 25 Home Runs, and the 5th spot features a hitter with 29 Home Runs. However, as the lineup has a combined 190 Home Runs, these players had to hit somewhere.

Next: Updated top 10 prospects for each team

This should be a very fun MLB All-Star Game matchup and the coaches did a great job piecing these lineups together.

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