2017 MLB All-Star Game Expert Analysis & Betting Odds

In Major League Baseball, the league that won would earn home-field advantage for its representative in the World Series, a practice that began after the tie in 2003 but ended after the 2016 edition of the game. Now that it’s back to a pure exhibition, it will be interesting to see what unfolds. Let’s take a look at this year’s matchup with the latest MLB All-Star Game betting odds and prediction.

2017 MLB All-Star Game Expert Analysis & Betting Odds

Your AL and NL starting lineups for the #ASG. pic.twitter.com/7Wh1mCsh8S

— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2017

When: Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 8:00pm ET Where: Marlins Park, Miami TV: FOX Radio: FOX Sports Radio Live Stream: Fox Sports Go MLB Odds: National League 5/6 American League 6/5 This is one of the most even All-Star Game series in all of sports, as the National League has won 43 tilts, with the American League having won 42. However, in recent years, matters have heavily favored the American League, who have won four in a row, 16 of the last 20, and 22 of the last 29 (one of which includes that infamous tie, when both teams ran out of pitchers, leading to the expansion of rosters to add more hurlers).

Why should you bet on the American League?

Well, the American League should have fewer of the National League’s big arms to worry about. Clayton Kershaw threw a complete game on Sunday for the Dodgers, so he won’t appear at all on Tuesday night. Such big names as Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer also pitched over the weekend, which means that they won’t be available for extended duty. A lot of the AmericanLeague’s top starters last pitched on Thursday or Friday, which helps them out a lot.

Who Will Manage the AL in the MLB All-Star Game?

The American League will see Brad Mills as its manager. Terry Francona, the Cleveland Indians’ manager, would normally lead the squad, but his heart procedure last week has led himto prompt Mills, his bench coach, to take his spot. I anticipate that Chris Sale (11-4, 2.75 ERA) of the Boston Red Sox will start the All-Star Game. He had a rough outing on Thursday, permitting four runs on seven hits over seven innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. He did strike out 12 batters, though, and I expect that he will be amped up in the All-Star Game.

Why should you bet on the National League?

There is no designated hitter in this game, because it takes place in a National League park. I don’t expect to see pitchers come to the plate, because there are so many pitchers available that managers should utilize a number of double-switches to keep as many top bats in the game as possible. However, that sort of managerial acumen is something that National League managers deal with just about every day, while American League skippers only have to deal with it during road interleague play. Despite the unavailability of Kershaw, the National League starts a pitcher who might be just as dangerous, at least over two or three innings, in Alex Wood, who has put up a 10-0 record and a 1.67 ERA — both bests in all of Major League Baseball.

Who Will Manage the NL in the MLB All-Star Game?

Joe Maddon, the manager of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, will lead the National League side, and he is nothing if not willing to make creative substitutions in order to deliver the win. I anticipate that either Wood will start the game for the National League, but it could also be Scherzer, who will be available for some work in this game. Scherzer (10-5, 2.10 ERA) won the National League’s Cy Young Award last year and is one of the favorites to win it this year. His last time out on Friday saw atypical numbers, as he permitted four runs on six hits, taking a no-decision against Atlanta. He is tops in the National League in WHIP (0.78) and strikeouts (173).

2017 MLB All-Star Game Rosters

American League

Starters

• C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals: 18 HR, 57 RBI
• 1B Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays: 23 HR, 56 RBI
• 2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: 25 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs
• 3B Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians: 16 HR, 46 RBI
• SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros: 20 HR, 65 RBI
• OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: 1.139 OPS, 30 HR, 66 RBI
• OF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox: 16 HR, 15 SB, 53 RBI
• OF George Springer, Houston Astros: 27 HR, 61 RBI
• DH Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay Rays: .903 OPS, 17 HR

Reserves

• C Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
• 1B Yonder Alonso, Oakland Athletics
• 2B Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
• 2B Starlin Castro, New York Yankees
• 2B Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
• 3B Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
• 3B Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
• SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
• OF Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
• OF Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
• DH Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

Pitching Staff

• SP Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
• SP Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros
• SP Jason Vargas, Kansas City Royals
• SP Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
• SP Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
• SP Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
• SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
• SP Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
• SP Luis Severino, New York Yankees
• SP Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
• RP Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox
• RP Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians
• RP Chris Devenski, Houston Astros
• RP Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota Twins
• RP Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays
• RP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees

National League

Starters

• C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants: .325 BA, 10 HR, 35 RBI
• 1B Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals: .969 OPS, 19 HR, 63 RBI
• 2B Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals: .342 BA, 64 RBI
• 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies: .905, 17 HR, 70 RBI
• SS Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds: .316 BA, 35 RBI
• OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals: 1.021 OPS, 20 HR, 65 RBI
• OF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies: .319 BA, 20 HR, 61 RBI
• OF Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins: 23 HR, 69 RBI

Reserves

• C Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
• 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
• 1B Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
• 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2B Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
• 2B D.J. LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
• 3B Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks
• 3B Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
• SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
• OF Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves
• OF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
• OF Michael Conforto, New York Mets

Pitching Staff

• SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
• SP Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
• SP Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
• SP Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
• SP Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks
• SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
• SP Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
• RP Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
• RP Wade Davis, Chicago Cubs
• RP Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers
• RP Greg Holland, Colorado Rockies
• RP Brad Hand, San Diego Padres
• RP Pat Neshek, Philadelphia Phillies

Final 2017 MLB All-Star Game Score Prediction

Despite the fact that Kershaw is unavailable, I still see the National League putting on a show — and I see Stanton carrying home the MVP in front of a Miami crowd that has suffered a ton of adversity over the past year. I predict a 4-3 win for the senior circuit.