Young Stars are Story of 2019 MLB All-Star Game
With the unofficial first half of the regular season in the books, Major League Baseball is taking a well-deserved break for the 2019 All-Star Game. This year’s Midsummer Classic is being held Tuesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The AL leads the series 44-43-2. That includes a 8-6 victory in 10 innings last year in the highest-scoring game since the infamous 7-7 tie in 2002.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX; LINE: N.L. -117; O/U: 8.5 Over -117.
PITCHING MATCHUP: National League LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-2, 1.73 ERA) vs. American League RH Justin Verlander (10-4, 2.98)
The American League’s recent dominance of the National League in the All-Star Game is a strange phenomenon seeing as each team shares the most talented players in the world. The AL tries for its seventh straight victory and 19th in the last 23 meetings over the N.L. on Tuesday. Tonight’s affair will be the 90th edition of the Midsummer Classic. The game tonight is the first time in five years the game will be played in an AL ballpark.
The All-Star Game was a reliably low-scoring affair for most of the new millennium. With the recent emphasis on power hitting and changes in the manufacture of the balls themselves. Last year’s game was an 8-6 victory (Over 7) for the AL in 10 innings, their sixth straight win.
2019 MLB All-Star Game This, That, and a Dart Throw
The hometown fans will have plenty to cheer about with four Indians on the AL roster. The players include first baseman Carlos Santana, who is batting fourth, reserve shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitchers Shane Bieber and Brad Hand. Hand is expected to get the ball in the eighth inning. Houston paces the AL with six representatives. The have four starters, in right fielder George Springer (batting first), third baseman Alex Bregman (sixth), left fielder Michael Brantley (eighth) and right-hander Justin Verlander.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also boast five players with a pair of NL starters in right fielder Cody Bellinger, who is batting fourth and left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Verlander is starting his second All-Star Game, in his eighth appearance, while Ryu makes his All-Star Game debut. This is definitely a matchup of strong Cy Young Award contenders.
Ryu is having a remarkable season so far. He has allowed more than two earned runs only once in his 17 starts. N.L. manager Dave Roberts of Los Angeles has two of his other pitchers at his disposal. Clayton Kershaw is making his eighth appearance after a one-year hiatus. Walker Buehler is in his first All-Star Game. Kirby Yates leads the major leagues with 30 saves. He seems to be a logical choice to serve as Roberts’ closer. The right-hander has saved San Diego’s three consecutive victories at Dodger Stadium over the weekend.
Verlander hasn’t been completely sharp of late. He has yielded three or four earned runs in each of his last six starts. This was after a solid run where he allowed three of more in only three of his first 13 turns. AL manager Alex Cora of Boston will have a lot of options after Verlander. They include the Chicago White Sox’ Lucas Giolito. He shares the major league lead with 11 victories. Tampa Bay’s Charlie Morton and Minnesota’s Jake Odorizzi, who have 10 wins apiece are at the ready as well. Cora’s staff also boasts Houston’s Gerrit Cole, who leads the AL-most 170 strikeouts, and Ryan Pressly, whose 21 holds are tied for the most in baseball. Los Angeles Angels CF Mike Trout is also making his eighth All-Star Game appearance and will bat third.
The Dart Throw: National League 4, American League 2.
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