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MLB All-Star Game: National League lineup predictions

By Nathaniel Reeves

Oct 3, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) heads out on his two run home run during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Washington Nationals won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) heads out on his two run home run during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Washington Nationals won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) doubles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) doubles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Base

Starter: Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins.

While Gordon has a much different skill set than the rest of the potential NL lineup, he’s in good shape to receive his second consecutive start at second base with limited competition at the position.

Gordon’s game is based around elite level speed and terrific contact ability. The Dodgers only gave Gordon limited playing time early in his career, and he posted a solid if unspectacular 3.2 WAR in his only full season in Los Angeles in 2014 per FanGraphs, with much of his value coming from 64 stolen bases.

Something really clicked when Gordon was traded to Miami prior to the 2015 season, as he led the league in hits despite missing a handful of games and stole another 58 bases. Gordon’s WAR improved all the way to a mark of 4.6, as he showed great strides defensively in addition to posting his best career numbers at the plate.

While Gordon is never going to have much power, he can be a very valuable piece even with league-average offense, roughly the rate he’s hitting at to start 2016. Gordon’s toughest competition in the fan vote will probably come from Joe Panik and Ben Zobrist, so he should be in good shape to win again.

Reserves: Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals.

Last year’s playoff hero for the Mets went to rival Washington and is off to a sizzling 221 wRC+ start. That number will obviously come down, but Murphy should still have some of the best stats among NL second basemen at the break.

Next: Shortstop

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