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MLB All-Star Game: American League lineup predictions

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) reacts after hitting a single in the 12th inning against the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) reacts after hitting a single in the 12th inning against the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 6, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) throws against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in the American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) throws against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in the American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Relief Pitchers

Andrew Miller, New York Yankees. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals. David Robertson, Chicago White Sox. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros. Criag Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox.

The biggest questions for the relief pitchers is will three Yankees’ relievers make the All-Star roster, and will Chapman’s 30-game suspension cost him a spot. Unfortunately for the deserving Dellin Betances, taking three members of New York’s bullpen seems unlikely, and saves will make the difference for Miller and Chapman.

Davis is holding his place as arguably the best reliever in baseball by not allowing a run yet. Kimbrel has given up a few more runs than the Red Sox would have hoped for in the early going, but he’s still striking out over 40 percent of batters and will be back to his normal unhittable self soon enough.

After trading a great package of prospects to the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason that included Vincent Velasquez, everyone expected Ken Giles to be Houston’s closer for the foreseeable future. However, the Astros gave Gregerson the job again coming out of Spring Training, and he’s responded with five scoreless innings and four saves.

One of the more underrated relievers in baseball, Robertson could be leading the Majors in saves by the break on the improving White Sox. Robertson has topped at least a 29 percent strikeout rate in each of the last four years per FanGraphs and has also been perfect through his first five games.

For more MLB All-Star Game coverage, be sure to check out our baseball hub page. 

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