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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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Aug 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Pitcher

Starter: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox.

Unlike the rest of the starters, the starting pitcher for the AL in the All-Star Game will be determined by Yost. With a few of the usual suspects in the AL like Felix Hernandez struggling, Sale will earn his first career All-Star start.

Sale has been terrific since debuting as a starter for the White Sox in 2012, posting a career 2.90 ERA (2.95 FIP) with a 26.7 percent strikeout rate according to FanGraphs. As great as those numbers are, Sale probably hasn’t received the amount of credit he deserves nationally, and the raw stuff is there for the lanky lefty to be even more dominant.

With the White Sox improving both offensively and defensively over the offseason, Sale could be in for a huge year that finally earns him that elusive Cy Young Award. Sale is off to a 4-0 start with just six earned runs and three walks allowed in 30 innings of work, numbers worthy of an All-Star starter.

Sale’s main competition will likely come from the likes of Dallas Keuchel and David Price. While neither is off to exactly a slow start, they have some work to do to catch up to Sale’s pace in the early going.

Reserves: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees. Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics. David Price, Boston Red Sox. Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians.

Keuchel is struggling a bit with his normally pinpoint command in the early going, but is still doing a generally good of run prevention. Others like Tanaka, Gray, and Price should not come as surprises, provided everyone stays healthy.

Odorizzi and Salazar are both relatively young pitchers poised to approach their high ceilings in 2016. Chris Archer may seem like the most logical representative for the Rays, but is scuffling in the early going with reduced velocity, while Odorizzi has been great across the board.

Salazar is using his plus raw stuff to run an 1.47 ERA and 11.29 K/9 ratio through his first three starts per FanGraphs. While teammates Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco may take away some of the attention from Salazar, his numbers will just be too good for Yost and company to ignore.

Next: Relief Pitchers

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