2019 MLB All-Star Game: Who Should, and Who Will, Start?

There’s a new way to vote for this year’s starters for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, but in the end, who should be on the field? Who will be on the field?

Yes the voting system is different but the popularity of certain players remains the same. In recent years however, there has been a growing trend of higher vote totals for the most deserving players – except Bryce Harper last year.

While the fans can’t control which pitchers make the team – surely they wouldn’t have let 2018 AL Cy Young award winner Blake Snell miss the first cut last season – they greatly impact which players will be starting for the American League and National League on the field and in the lineup.

So with the new system being the top-three vote-getters have a run-off election for the starter, just how will this year’s ballot look?  Who will come out on top in a should start/will start scenario?

I will list the three most-likely at each position to get into the top, as well as my should candidate and my will candidate. Let the speculation begin!

MLB All-Star Game

AL Top Three

Luke Voit, CJ Cron, Jose Abreu

Should: CJ Cron

Will: Luke Voit

Based on statistics and just the general love for the Yankees, my predicted top three includes two of the higher OPS’ at the position, as well as last year’s starter in Abreu.

This might be a runaway race for Luke Voit, who has continued his strong late-season push last year into a strong start this year.

He has 15 homeruns and 39 RBI while touting the third-highest OPS among first basemen (.871).

On a team that has been bitten by several injury bugs, Voit has kept the team afloat as the leader of a band of misfit Yankees.

CJ Cron on the other hand is one of Minnesota’s surprise players this season. He’s hitting .275 with 14 homeruns and 40 RBI, with an .866 OPS; second-highest of AL first basemen just behind Carlos Santana.

Simple enough to see why Cron should deserve the nod, but the popularity of New York and Voit’s strong case himself will likely send him to his first all-star game via the fan vote.

MLB All-Star Game

NL Top Three

Josh Bell, Anthony Rizzo, Freddie Freeman

Should: Josh Bell

Will: Josh Bell

No debates here. Josh Bell is far and away the most deserving and getting enough national attention to warrant the votes. He’s easily got the stats to support his case.

.333 batting average, 18 homeruns, 56 RBI and a 1.080 OPS; which leads all first basemen, not just the National League. The exception being homeruns but it won’t be soon before he takes that too.

Bell has gotten plenty of love from his teammates and fanbase with the #BELLieve campaign as well.

Don’t count out Freeman and Rizzo and even Pete Alonso though. First base will be competitive in the NL to the very last vote.

MLB All-Star Game

AL Top Three

DJ LeMahieu, Tommy La Stella, Michael Chavis

Should: Tommy La Stella

Will: DJ LeMahieu

Predicting who would receive votes in this one was tougher once I got past LeMahieu and La Stella. Chavis got the third nod given his popularity of recent and his donning the red socks.

I don’t think he’ll get the starting nod, but he deserves a bit of love; as does Brandon Lowe.

But with the statistical season La Stella and LeMahieu are having it puts them in the front. As a result, we could see a right side of the infield in pinstripes.

Deservedly so, LeMahieu, who wasn’t even going to start for the Yanks, has been the team’s MVP at the top of the order and all over the infield.

His .317 average is par for the course as someone who won the NL batting title only a few years ago. With it he has 40 RBI that lead AL second basemen and a third-highest .837 OPS.

La Stella on the other hand has seen a power surge in his first season with the Angels. He has the most homeruns among AL second basemen with 13 and a .901 OPS to boot.

It will be a tight race to the end for certain.

MLB All-Star Game

NL Top Three

Ketel Marte, Cesar Hernandez, Mike Moustakas

Should: Ketel Marte

Will: Mike Moustakas

This one is rather unfortunate because while Moustakas has the better statistics, he has not played second base much with the decline of Jesus Aguilar. He has had nearly as many starts at third base as he has at second. With Keston Hiura back in Triple-A, the second base playing time will increase however.

Regardless, he has the most homeruns with 18 and highest OPS at .907. He has the Brewers fan base behind him and a Brewers team that has a lot of love after a deep postseason run.

The wild card however is Marte, who also isn’t the everyday second baseman but is best defensively there. He is hitting the best he has in his young career in just year two of a five-year deal with Arizona.

Marte has 14 homers and 43 RBI with a .839 OPS; all are career bests for Marte.

The problem for Marte is there is no love for the desert team in the D-Backs who have not truly shown the team that they are. If he does get the start, it will be well earned, but not as likely given his competition.

MLB All-Star Game

AL Top Three

Xander Bogaerts, Gleyber Torres, Jorge Polanco

Should: Jorge Polanco

Will: Xander Bogaerts

Another tight race here at the shortstop position. I can’t wait for the outfield to roll around.

Anyway, Polanco started his 2019 campaign on a tear with the now League’s best Minnesota Twins. Currently, he leads all shortstops with a .338 batting average and a .978 OPS. He only has 10 homeruns and 38 RBI but is developing himself as a threat at the plate.

Torres has made a strong case with his power surge against the Orioles, but this is where Boston will get their revenge on the Bronx Bombers.

Bogaerts gives Boston plenty of reason to stuff the ballot box – do they have those anymore?

He has the second-most RBI of AL shortstops with 41 as well as homers with 12.

Bogaerts has the vote advantage as well as his stats backing him up.

MLB All-Star Game

NL Top Three

Javier Baez, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr.

Should: Javier Baez

Will: Javier Baez

It was easiest to predict this top three. Take the two all-stars from last year and the most exciting rookie in the National League since Kris Bryant in 2015.

Tatis Jr. might go, but the injury he dealt with last month might keep him out. Story is certainly a lock to go again and his stats continue to prove as to why.

Baez however is the excitement that baseball needs and loves; plus he’s a really good five-tool player.

Baez is in the top two of the major hitting categories of all shortstops in baseball. .306 avg, 16 homeruns, 42 RBI and a .931 OPS.

If that’s not enough, just watch a highlight tape of him flashing the leather as he dives left and right and his ability to create catcher’s assists on throwdowns to second.

Baez is out of this world at the shortstop position. He may also dominate that starting spot for years to come.

MLB All-Star Game

AL Top Three

Gary Sanchez, Jason Castro, Pedro Severino

Should: Gary Sanchez

Will: Gary Sanchez

Somebody has released the kraken and he has tormented opposing pitchers all season long.

In general, Sanchez has the hitting stats that are far above all other AL catchers. Castro and Severino would get love based on their stats because really none of the others are in the same area code as Sanchez.

Leading all catchers with 19 homers, 37 RBI and a .964 OPS, Sanchez is also showing he can make contact with a .262 average.

This is Sanchez’s spot, and it isn’t going to change anytime soon.

MLB All-Star Game

NL Top Three

Willson Contreras, Yasmani Grandal, JT Realmuto

Should: Willson Contreras

Will: Willson Contreras

Will Willson win? Highly likely.

Along with Baez, Contreras has become the dominant player in his league at his position.

Last year he was joined by Realmuto, but he will likely be joined by Grandal and possibly Miami’s new backstop Jorge Alfaro.

Like Sanchez, Contreras is dominating the offensive categories with a .291 average, 13 homers, 34 RBI and a .956 OPS. That leads all NL backstops.

Grandal has as strong of a case with his .281 average, 13 homers and 32 RBI, but the popularity in Chicago is the grand boost for Contreras.

Don’t be shocked if both of them end up in Cleveland however.

MLB All-Star Game

AL Top Nine

Mike Trout, Austin Meadows, George Springer, Joey Gallo, Trey Mancini, Michael Brantley, Alex Gordon, Max Kepler, Byron Buxton

Should: Mike Trout, Austin Meadows, George Springer

Will: Mike Trout, George Springer, Joey Gallo

Honestly, Meadows and Gallo are interchangeable on both fronts. Each has a great story in terms of how well they have played this year and how much they have improved from the previous season.

Based on voting and statistics, Trout and Springer are the most likely locks, but the battle will be heated between Gallo and Meadows.

Meadows, had an excellent April that has propelled him through May now into June. He sports a .345 average, 12 homers, 38 RBI and a 1.051 OPS.

Gallo had retooled his swing and has become more than just the homerun, walk or strikeout. He’s holding his best average at .276 with 17 homers and 41 RBI. Plus he has an AL-leading 1.074 OPS.

You guys can be your own judge on those two, but with Gallo’s national recognition – mostly because of the popular video game MLB The Show – he will likely see his first all-star appearance come July.

MLB All-Star Game

NL Top Nine

Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, Charlie Blackmon, Juan Soto, David Dahl, David Peralta, Ronald Acuna Jr., Michael Conforto, Bryce Harper

Should: Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, Juan Soto

Will: Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, Charlie Blackmon

Like with Springer and Trout, Yelich and Bellinger are automatic in this category. You want to know more about them, read my story on determining which of them is the better player.

So now the debate rests between Soto – Harper’s replacement – or Blackmon – lovably known as Chuck Nazty.

Both are equally qualified, with the only knock against Blackmon being his injury during last month.

Soto currently is hitting .289 with 10 homers and 38 RBI and a .910 OPS.

Blackmon on the other hand went into the injury with a .300 average, 10 homers, 38 RBI and a .921 OPS.

Blackmon has played in three all-star games already while Soto would make his first should he get voted in.

Blackmon has equally as fair statistics while additionally having the recognition. Hence, he could be starting this one.

MLB All-Star Game

Top Three

JD Martinez, Hunter Pence, Avisail Garcia

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Should: Hunter Pence

Will: Hunter Pence

Call me whatever you want but I am making the bold decision saying not only should Pence be the starting DH, he will be the starting DH.

Last year, Martinez was the runaway best option at DH; even at an MVP-level. This year it has to be Pence.

The great comeback story that is Pence goes as far back as last September, when it was made public the Giants were not going to re-sign him. So what did the determined Pence do? He played winter ball in the Dominican League, fixed his hitting tendencies and is on pace to make the all-star team regardless.

He leads all DH’s with 41 RBI and a .932 OPS. Add to it a .287 average and 13 homers and Pence has proven to the MLB world that he can still play.

Just remember he is on a minor league contract and just barely made the opening day roster for the Rangers.

At this point in the season, starting DH is his to lose.