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MLB All-Star Game begins Tuesday in Cincinnati
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 7/14/2015  at  9:59:00 AM
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2015 MLB All-Star Game

Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OH
First pitch: Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. EDT

Game Line: National League -115, American League +105
Total: Over 7 (-125), Under 7 (+105)

Another mid-summer classic is set to go off when the best players in baseball head to Great American Ballpark for the 86th installment of the All-Star game.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

The American League has all but dominated this game since 1997, going 14-3-1 and came away victorious in each of the last two seasons. Of course this game comes with plenty of importance as the league that wins earns home field advantage during the World Series. Since that began, the AL is 9-3 at earning home field, but has not taken advantage as they are just 5-7 in the World Series.

Before last season, the game was easy to predict if you were going for the over/under as the game went under for eight consecutive years before matching the number of eight in a 5-3 AL victory last year. With the competition for home field heating up, it seems as if the players are putting their best foot forward and the total has dropped in each successive season with the number of seven being the lowest in a decade. It could be the year for offensive fireworks, though, with the contest being played at a hitter’s park like Great American Ballpark which has yielded 2.52 HR per game during the regular season. Look for offense to rule in a game that has typically been dominated by pitching as the young superstars like Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson tee off.

A ton of new names show up on the AL roster on the pitching side of things as eight of the flamethrowers are first time visitors to the event. One of those first-timers is LHP Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA) who has the best WAR (3.4) amongst AL pitchers and has given up very few homers (0.46 HR/9) while benefiting from hitters batting a meager .255 against him. Three of the other six starters selected are first timers and that group features RHP Chris Archer (9-6, 2.74 ERA) who has taken a Rays team further than they were expected to go behind a big strikeout rate (10.9 K/9) as he is joined by RHP Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.04 ERA) and LHP Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33 ERA) in the group of newcomers. There are some veterans in the staff as well with the trio of RHP Felix Hernandez (11-5, 2.84), LHP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.72 ERA) and LHP David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA) combining for 15 appearances in the contest. The relievers are impressive for this side of the ball and are led by RHP Dellin Betances (1.53 ERA, 7 saves) who’s WAR of 1.9 is 0.5 better then the next closest AL reliever and he has struck out 14.7 batters per nine innings. RHP Glen Perkins (1.21 ERA, 28 saves) is the only other reliever on this side of the ball who has made multiple All-Star Games with this being his third after saving the most games for the AL during the first part of the season.

The starter for the NL is RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA) who has been having a historically good season while coming into the game with a scoreless innings streak of 35.2. Just like the AL squad, there are plenty of first-timers joining the squad and a few of the starters (Gerrit Cole, Shelby Miller, Jacob DeGrom, Michael Wacha) are almost certainly going to make their way back with their youth. RHP A.J. Burnett (7-3, 2.11 ERA) will be making his first appearance in the mid-summer classic at the age of 38. The rest of the starters are headlined by RHP Max Scherzer (10-7, 2.11 ERA) who is striking out more than a batter per inning (10.2 K/9) for the fourth straight year and has shown impeccable control (0.95 BB/9). Also joining the squad as starters are veterans LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-5, 3.33 ERA) and LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-6, 2.85 ERA) who have collectively been to eight of these events. The top pitcher who comes from the ‘pen is RHP Aroldis Chapman (1.69 ERA, 18 saves) who has used his 99.6 MPH average fastball to mow down 15.7 batters per nine innings of work. A couple of veterans will also be in attendance with both RHP Jonathan Papelbon (1.60 ERA, 14 saves) and RHP Francisco Rodriguez (1.41 ERA, 19 saves) making it here for the sixth time.

The offense for the American League is led by last year’s MVP, OF Mike Trout, who is having yet another stellar campaign as he leads all others in his league with a WAR of 5.6; 0.9 better than the next best. He’s tied with 1B Albert Pujols for the AL lead with 26 homers and has scored more runs (68) than anyone else. Joining him in the outfield will be Lorenzo Cain (.316) making his All-Star debut and Adam Jones (.281, 14 HR) who has been selected five times. The infield is led by 3B Josh Donaldson (21 HR, 60 RBI) who has scored 65 runs (3rd in AL) and has an ISO of .239. Across the diamond is Pujols (26 HR) who is attending his 10th game and is joined by 2B Jose Altuve (.293, 25 SB) and SS Alcides Escobar (.290). Manning the duties behind the plate will be C Salvador Perez (15 HR) who is one of seven Kansas City players to make the roster. DH Nelson Cruz (21 HR) will give the lineup a boost as his .308 average is his best since 2010. The reserves are topped by 2B Jason Kipnis (4.7 WAR) who is hitting .323 with 59 runs scored and 10 steals while he is joined by 1B Mark Teixeira (62 RBI), the league leader in RBI, and 3B Manny Machado (19 HR, 13 SB), who has been huge as the leadoff hitter for Baltimore.

The top player on the NL squad is another young superstar in OF Bryce Harper (26 HR, 61 RBI, 59 Runs) who is sporting a tremendous 5.7 WAR and has an incredible .365 ISO. The crew around him in the outfield is led by Andrew McCutchen (.295) who is coming to his fifth All-Star Game and he will see rookie Joc Pederson (20 HR) next to him as he makes his debut a night after being the runner-up at the Home Run Derby. Moving up to the infield, the ultra-talented 1B Paul Goldschmidt (21 HR, 16 SB) will lead the way as he is hitting .340 on the season and ranks best in the NL in batting average, RBI, runs and walks. Next to him will be 2B D.J. LeMahieu (.311) who is making his All-Star Game debut and will be joined by SS Jhonny Peralta (.298, 13 HR) in the middle infield as he is at this contest for the third time. Finishing off the infield is 3B Todd Frazier (25 HR, 8 SB) who is fresh off of a Home Run Derby victory and will clearly be a fan favorite in his hometown. C Buster Posey (.314, 14 HR, 58 RBI) will be representing the Giants for the third time here and will be batting right in front of DH Anthony Rizzo (.298, 16 HR, 12 SB). Young superstar, 3B Kris Bryant (12 HR, 51 RBI) has the best WAR (3.5) of the reserves in this group which also features OF A.J. Pollock (.299, 11 HR, 19 SB) and 3B Nolan Arenado (24 HR, 70 RBI).

ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS

American League Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Albert Pujols, Angels
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners
Starting pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, Astros

National League Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
2B: D.J. LeMahieu, Rockies
SS: Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
3B: Todd Frazier, Reds
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
OF: Joc Pederson, Dodgers
DH: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Starting pitcher: Zack Greinke, Dodgers


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