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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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Sep 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

First Base

Starter: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers.

Even as he gets up there in age, Cabrera remains a force at the plate, and should have more than enough fan support to run away with the first base vote.

The 33-year-old has posted no worse than a 129 wRC+in any single season since his first full year in 2004 per FanGraphs while collecting two MVP awards and baseball’s first Triple Crown win in over four decades in 2013. That performance has earned Cabrera six straight All-Star nods, including three consecutive wins in the fan voting.

There’s no reason to think the fans won’t continue to back Cabrera in 2016. Cabrera is off to a modest start by his standards with a .255/.352/.383 line by his standards, those numbers promise to pick up, and he should have great counting stats by the break in an improved Tigers lineup.

While Eric Hosmer could keep it close in the voting again, Cabrera should pull away in the voting eventually. Hopefully, for the sake of the Tigers and baseball as a whole, Cabrera is healthy for the All-Star Game this time around.

Reserves: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins.

Davis looks poised for another season with at least 40 home runs, as he has five already. Mauer has bounced back nicely with 0.6 WAR in the early going per FanGraphs, doubling his total from 2015, and might have the best chance of any Twin to make the All-Star Game.

Next: Second Base

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