The MLB All-Star rosters have been announced for each league, but there are still unanswered questions heading into the Midsummer Classic.
There will be a few changes to the rosters in the coming days, including injury replacements and fill-ins for pitchers who won’t be able to go on short rest. There is also the final vote that will add one more hitter to each squad.
However, it will be just as interesting to follow the managerial decisions within the lineup about who will play and when. Here is a look at the full rosters along with some questions that will be answered before Tuesday night.
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Who’s the American League Starting Pitcher?
Danny Salazar has had a great season to this point. He leads the American League in ERA by a wide margin at 2.36, only once allowing more than three runs in a game. His .195 opponent batting average trails only Toronto’s Marco Estrada, and Salazar’s play is a major reason the Cleveland Indians are in first place in the AL Central.
Boston’s Steven Wright has been one of the best stories of the baseball season as an out-of-nowhere knuckleball pitcher who has been one of the top starters in the majors.
However, the favorite to start the All-Star Game remains Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander has a 0.98 WHIP and a solid 2.93 ERA, but the truly eye-popping number is his 14-2 record. Although wins have been devalued in baseball as of late, there is still something to be said for having this many victories in the first half of the year.
Sale pitches deep into games and is as consistent as they come, not just this season, but for the last five years as a starter.
Despite the heavy competition, Sale should be named the starter.
Will Dexter Fowler Be Back in Time?
Considering five different Chicago Cubs position players were voted in as starters, no one would be too upset if one of them couldn’t play in the All-Star Game. However, Dexter Fowler remains a question mark after dealing with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks.
The outfielder was eligible to come off the disabled list Monday but is just beginning his rehab assignment Friday, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
While the Cubs have certainly missed their leadoff hitter, returning for the All-Star Game has been just as important as returning to his team, as manager Joe Maddon discussed.
“He wants to play in the All-Star Game,” Maddon said of Fowler, per ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers. “Don’t anyone fault him for that. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And I’m all for it. Let’s see how this plays the rest of the weekend, but the overriding concern is that he plays for us the rest of the year.”
It wouldn’t be hard to replace Fowler if he is unable to play. Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez and Pittburgh’s Starling Marte might be more deserving of the honor anyway after posting strong numbers in the first half. However, this is the veteran outfielder’s first chance to play in this exhibition in eight years in the majors.
Although Chicago fans would rather see him rest for an extra few days and come back healthier, it’s understandable for Fowler to do whatever it takes to be in San Diego.
How Will National League DH Be Used?
The starters are voted on by fans at each position, but New York Mets manager Terry Collins will get the opportunity to add one more starter at designated hitter.
This is an excellent chance to make up for an oversight by the fans at any position. This could include Washington’s Daniel Murphy, Colorado’s Nolan Arenado, Los Angeles’ Corey Seager or anyone else who arguably should have started if not for some ballot-stuffing by Cubs fans.
On the other hand, A.J. Cassavell of MLB.com provides another idea for the DH spot:
In addition to the convenience of shuffling the lineup, Wil Myers would provide the San Diego fans with a hometown player to cheer for right out of the gate.
Myers is also in the midst of the best season of his young career, so he is also deserving of the spot. While other players might have better numbers, there likely won’t be too many complaints if the 25-year-old hitter is added to the starting lineup.
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