2013 MLB All-Star Game Preview And Prediction
By: Dan Leach
Follow Dan Leach on Twitter @dtmleach
AMERICAN LEAGUE VS NATIONAL LEAGUE 8PM TUESDAY JULY 16TH-CITI FIELD, NYC
(Current line NL -$135 AL +$115 Total 8)
Starting Pitchers
NL-Matt Harvey (7-2 2.35) NY Mets
AL-Max Scherzer (13-1 3.19 ERA) Detroit Tigers
Starting Lineups (AL Manager Jim Leyland has said he will play his starters 5 innings)
American League
1-Mike Trout, CF
2-Robinson Cano, 2B
3-Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4-Chris Davis, 1B
5-Jose Bautista, RF
6-David Ortiz, DH
7-Adam Jones, CF
8-Joe Mauer, C
9-J.J. Hardy, SS
National League
1-Brandon Phillips, 2B
2-Carlos Beltran, RF
3-Joey Votto, 1B
4-David Wright, 3B
5-Carlos Gonzalez, LF
6-Yadier Molina, C
7-Troy Tulowitzki, SS
8-Michael Cuddyer, DH
9-Bryce Harper, CF
The Midsummer classic blasts off from Citi Field in NYC on Tuesday Night with home field advantage on the line the World Series. The All Star Game might have lost a little of its luster over the past 50 years, but it means more than ever now as all you have to do is ask the Detroit Tigers how opening on the road last year in San Francisco worked for them in the World Series. Both teams come in with absolutely stacked rosters. Just look at the AL's and see that Joe Mauer is batting 8th and the NL's with Bryce Harper hitting 9th, to see how stacked they are.
I think the tone will be set from the get-go with the two best pitchers in the game this year in Harvey and Scherzer. The lineups they have to face are simply some of the best in recent memory. I think the team that can break the scoreless tie first is going to gain confidence in spades and this could be a game where one or two runs is enough with the depth of healthy pitchers on both sides. This game often does not get going until the later innings, but this year I feel like it will be serious from pitch one.
Prediction (Based on a 1-10 "The All Star Game Still Matters" Collectible Bobble Head scale) 8.6 Bobble's on the American League (AL 6 NL 2) - Not that the National League has a weak batting lineup by any stretch, but the AL's is downright historic. In the end I think the American League just has too much of a balanced offense/pitching combo to lose this one even though it is in an NL park. The National League has won the last three years and it has had a direct effect on the World Series as all three years the NL has won the Fall Classic with its home field advantage gained in this game. The AL stems the tide this year and look for huge games out of Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, and Jose Bautista. This is gonna be fun!
Dan Leach is an avid hot air balloon enthusiast, invented the curve ball on a field in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and coaches the World Champion NFWB Tee Ball team on Fall Saturdays.
