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2014 All-Star Game Preview
The Orioles had three starters voted into the American League starting lineup for this year's All-Star Game at Minnesota's Target Field, while the Brewers paced the National League with two starters and four players overall. The Athletics, who have the best record in baseball, placed six players on the roster for the first time since 1975. There were also 25 first-time All-Stars and 24 foreign-born players announced Sunday.
Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones, designated hitter Nelson Cruz and catcher Matt Wieters will represent the Orioles after winning at their respective positions in the fan balloting. Wieters is out for the season due to Tommy John elbow surgery and was replaced by Salvador Perez of the Royals. The rest of the AL starters are first baseman Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), second baseman Robinson Cano (Mariners), shortstop Derek Jeter (Yankees), third baseman Josh Donaldson (Athletics) and outfielders Mike Trout (Angels) and Jose Bautista (Blue Jays).
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez and outfielder Carlos Gomez will represent the Brewers, who have the National League's best record. They'll be joined by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks), second baseman Chase Utley (Phillies), shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), catcher Yadier Molina (Cardinals) and outfielders Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) and Yasiel Puig (Dodgers).
American League manager John Farrell and National League manager Mike Matheny will announce the batting orders and starting pitchers before the teams work out the day before the July 15 Midsummer Classic. The league that wins will receive home-field advantage in the World Series. For his starting pitcher, Farrell can choose from Yu Darvish (Rangers), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Felix Hernandez (Mariners), Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees), Jon Lester (Red Sox), David Price (Rays), Scott Kazmir (Athletics) and Mark Buehrle (Blue Jays). Any starter who pitches Sunday will be honored as an All-Star but won't play. The AL relievers announced Sunday are Sean Doolittle (Athletics), Glen Perkins (Twins), Greg Holland (Royals) and Dellin Betances (Yankees).
The Dodgers placed two starting pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, and the National League will also have starters Madison Bumgarner (Giants), Adam Wainwright (Cardinals), Julio Teheran (Braves), Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals), Johnny Cueto (Reds) and Tyson Ross (Padres). Right-hander Jeff Samardzija was selected by the players, but he was replaced on the NL roster after being traded from the Cubs to the Athletics on Saturday. The NL bullpen will consist of Craig Kimbrel (Braves), Aroldis Chapman (Reds), Francisco Rodriguez (Brewers), Pat Neshek (Cardinals) and Tony Watson (Pirates).
The American League reserves are catchers Kurt Suzuki (Twins) and Derek Norris (Athletics), first basemen Jose Abreu (White Sox), Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays) and Brandon Moss (Athletics), second baseman Jose Altuve (Astros), third baseman Adrian Beltre (Rangers), shortstop Alexei Ramirez (White Sox), outfielders Michael Brantley (Indians), Yoenis Cespedes (Athletics) and Alex Gordon (Royals) and DH Victor Martinez (Tigers). All the non-starters came from the player ballot except for Price, Scherzer, Perkins, Lester, Norris and Moss, who were manager selections in conjunction with MLB. Farrell also picked Suzuki to replace Wieters, and he will likely have to choose a replacement for Encarnacion, who had to leave Saturday night's game with a strained quad.
The National League reserves are catchers Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers) and Devin Mesoraco (Reds), first baseman Freddie Freeman (Braves), second basemen Dee Gordon (Dodgers) and Daniel Murphy (Mets), shortstop Starlin Castro (Cubs), third basemen Matt Carpenter (Cardinals) and Todd Frazier (Reds) and outfielders Charlie Blackmon (Rockies), Josh Harrison (Pirates), Hunter Pence (Giants) and Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins). Matheny's picks were Greinke, Ross, Zimmermann, Neshek, Watson, Mesoraco, Murphy, Carpenter and Harrison.
Overall, Milwaukee placed four players on the roster for the fifth time in franchise history. Lucroy and Rodriguez were added through the player vote. "We've got some guys who have had great first halves so far, and that's what's nice to see," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "It's great, because it's a team game, we play to win, but it's nice when an individual is recognized like they are for this game."
Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters on Sunday, fans began voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each league until the winners are announced after the voting concludes on Thursday at 4:00 PM EST. The candidates are Casey McGehee (Marlins), Justin Morneau (Rockies), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), Anthony Rizzo (Cubs) and Justin Upton (Braves) in the NL and Dallas Keuchel (Astros), Corey Kluber (Indians), Garrett Richards (Angels), Rick Porcello (Tigers) and Chris Sale (White Sox) in the AL.
The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans help choose the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com and via Twitter in the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers, for the first time, will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 platforms that support MLB.TV, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via Major League Baseball International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
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MLB Betting News and Notes - Week #16
When you think of All-Star Games, you're automatically drawn to images of high-scoring, highlight-reel action. Unless, of course, we’re talking about the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. While other all-star showcases, like the NBA All-Star Game or NFL Pro Bowl, are known for their outpouring of offense, the MLB Mid-Summer Classic has displayed defense over the past eight years. And, totals bettors playing the under have cashed in each and every year in that span.
This season, the oddsmakers have sent out a 7.5 total for Tuesday evenings’ All-Star Game at Target Field in Minnesota. According to Michael Stewart, an oddsmaker with CarbonSports.ag, sportsbooks “look at past All-Star performances, the strength of the All-Star teams’ pitching staff and the stadium” when setting the total.
Last year, the American League blanked the National League 3-0, staying well Under the 8-run number set by oddsmakers. The year before, the National League shutout the American League 8-0 which just stayed below the 8.5-run total. In 2011, the senior circuit won 5-1 with a total of eight runs. In 2010, the final score was 3-1 with a total of 8.5.
Books pegged the 2009 All-Star Game with a 9.5-run number but the American League edged the National League 4-3. The two leagues produced that same score over 15 innings with a 10-run total in 2008. In 2007, the ASG finished 5-4 and just under the 10-run mark. And in 2006, the AL and NL combined for a 3-1 score which was well below the 10-run total.
Target Field has helped the Minnesota Twins produce a 47-42-5 Over/Under count at home this season and boasts the third highest park factor in the majors at 1.124 (a rating above 1.000 favors the hitter). Since opening in 2010, Target Field has transitioned from a pitcher-friendly park in 2010 and 2011, to a hitter’s park in 2012, 2013 and 2014. MLB All-Star Games have posted an average of 4.78 collective runs between 2006 and 2013.
Predicting Hitters Who Will Shine In Midsummer Classic
Each year, one of the biggest storylines to watch during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is the event's ace pitchers against the league's best sluggers. When the middle of July rolls around, one question is on every baseball fan's mind: Will pitching prevail, or will we see a bevy of runs scored? It's different every year.
So, will this year be a reflection of last year's 3-0 game dominated by pitching, or will we see a score similar to the 2004 hitting bonanza that ended in a 9-4 American League win? Based on what we've seen out of this season's sluggers so far, we can expect the latter. StatSystemsSports.net Vegas Insider Ryan Taylor predicts which hitters will shine above the rest at Target Field (8:00 PM EST) on ESPN Tuesday.
•Troy Tulowitzki: The NL's shortstop is poised to go off in this year's Midsummer Classic. This is Tulowitzki's fourth All-Star Game, and he's recorded only one hit over his first three appearances, but that's set to change this time around. The league-leading batter with an impressive .349 average, Tulowitzki is extremely versatile. He's knocked 21 balls out of the park, but he's also been a huge small-ball factor with 105 hits and 17 doubles. What makes him even more dangerous is his ability to connect with pitches in a variety of locations.
That will make a world of difference due to the possibility he'll face different ace pitchers during the Midsummer Classic. It's also worth mentioning that Tulowitzki is on a major hot streak right now. As of Saturday, he's managed at least one hit per game since June 28. Tulowitzki now has six-seasons with 20 or more home runs and he hits them when thrown inside/outside/down middle.
•Mike Trout: If someone on the AL roster is going to keep up with Tulowitzki and Co., it's Trout. We all know the center fielder has plenty of power at the plate—he's already racked up 22 jacks this season—but he's extremely consistent and capable of manufacturing runs in a variety of ways. This year, Trout's batting .310 and has accumulated 104 hits, 24 doubles, five triples and 69 RBI to go along with his home runs.
Speaking of his home runs, they aren't just leaving the park, they're absolutely blasted, according to our database Trout's 489-foot solo shot to center field in the first inning of the Angels' 8-6 loss to the Royals was the longest home run by an American League player since we here at StatSystemsSports.net began tracking them in 2006. Trout also became the 13th major league player aged 22 or younger with 20 or more homers before the All-Star break. No stranger to producing in the Midsummer Classic, Trout has two hits, including one double, and one walk in four at-bats in his previous two appearances. Expect him to make the most of his plate appearances once again this year.
•Miguel Cabrera: Considering Cabrera's history at the All-Star Game—he's recorded just two hits in 12 at-bats over his eight previous appearances—this may seem like an unusual selection. However, he appears poised to flip the script this time around. One of the league's most feared hitters, Cabrera can get it done at the plate in an extremely efficient manner. After all, he's recorded a batting average of less than .300 only once in his previous nine seasons (not including 2014).
This year, he's batting .313 with 105 hits, 14 home runs and 74 RBI (which is tied for the league lead). But that's not the most impressive part of his numbers. Cabrera has also accumulated a total of 34 doubles, good enough to rank second in the majors. If he can rattle off a double or two during the Midsummer Classic, rest assured that he'll have one of the biggest impacts of every star in action Tuesday.
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