A collection of Major League Baseball’s best will be showcased on Tuesday in the annual All-Star Game. Though the Midsummer Classic is an exhibition game, the American League has had the better of their counterparts from the senior circuit recently winning the last nine games and 16 of the previous 19 games. The only thing that saved the NL over the last decade was COVID, which forced the cancellation of the 2020 contest.

The game started to lose some of its appeal with stars from both league’s opting out of competing and excitement lacking on the field. That makes it even harder to wager on but won’t prevent BetRivers sportsbook from posting a variety of

MLB All Star Game

Date and Time: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 8 p.m. ET

Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Opening MLB Odds: Check Back Later

All Star Game TV Coverage: FOX

National League

Since the National League hasn’t won a game in 10 years it decided just to go with the team owning the best record in baseball. The Atlanta Braves topped everyone with eight selections, including three starters, three reserves and two pitchers. The Braves quietly passed Tampa Bay as the best team in MLB and are on a torrid pace scoring the second-most runs with the third-best staff ERA. Ronald Acuna Jr. as a favorite for NL MVP with a first half that’s seen him hit .337 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.

The NL needs to display some offense in order to break it’s losing streak and there’s a good chance we see that with three of the top four hitters in MLB donning NL jerseys. Luis Arraez has slipped a bit in his quest to hit .400 dropping to .384 entering the final weekend of games before the break. Acuna is second with LA’s Freddie Freeman boasting the fourth-best batting average. The senior circuit also boasts three of the top five home run hitters with Atlanta’s Matt Olson second with 29, New York’s Pete Alonso third with 25 and LA’s Mookie Betts fifth with 25.

Some of the usual names we see in this game aren’t around now that Clayton Kershaw was scratched due to injury. Instead we see hurlers like Bryce Elder, Justin Steele, Zac Gallen and Mitch Keller. In all the NL has 15 first time All-Stars set to head to the Pacific Northwest. Again, if something isn’t working make a change, and the NL did that. A starter hasn’t been named as of this writing, but there are several quality candidates. Gallen and Spencer Strider each have 10 wins, the second-most in MLB, while Elder boasts the best ERA in baseball. Manager Rob Thomson of the Phillies has plenty of options both at the dish and on the bump.

American League

If stuffing the ballot box was a thing I’m sure fans of the Texas Rangers would get plenty of heat. Granted they’re having a great season leading the AL West, but four starters from one team shouldn’t happen. An additional problem for the League is that several of the best players in baseball won’t partake in the festivities due to injury. Last year’s MVP Aaron Judge, who set an AL record for home runs, is on the shelf. He was joined recently by three-time MVP winner Mike Trout of the Angels. Also, 2021 MVP Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch due to an injury but he will DH. He leads MLB in homers.

The Rangers made a huge investment in the middle of their infield last season, and while it didn’t pay off then it sure is now. Both Marcus Semien and Corey Seager were voted starters after helping the Rangers to a big first half. They’re joined by teammates Josh Jung to round out ¾ of the infield and Jonah Heim.

I have to admit my confidence level in the AL staff is much lower than on the NL side. With Ohtani not taking the bump and Shane McClanahan on the shelf, there are some questionable All-Stars out there. The lineup is also thinned out with Trout and Judge sidelined. And because of that and the offensive firepower on the NL side, the senior circuit is in a good spot to cash a

All Star Game Prediction: NL / OVER

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