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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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Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; National League third baseman Kris Bryant (17) of the Chicago Cubs in the dugout prior to the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; National League third baseman Kris Bryant (17) of the Chicago Cubs in the dugout prior to the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Third Base

Starter: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs.

Just like in the AL, third base will be one of the closest positions in the NL fan voting, and a deserving candidate is going to be forced into a reserve role no matter who wins. Third base has seen a terrific influx of young talent over the past few years, and many of those players have already established themselves as superstars.

Bryant will have an advantage in the voting from the Cubs fanbase, which could very well rival the voting numbers the Kansas City Royals put up last year. The 24-year-old Bryant more than lived up to the hype last year and figures to play at an elite level in 2016 and many years beyond.

After being putting up video game-like numbers in the minors, Bryant was called up 11 games into the 2015 season and absolutely mashed at the plate. Bryant’s 6.5 WAR per FanGraphs helped the Cubs make the NLCS ahead of schedule and enter this season as World Series favorites.

While we may not see that WAR number from Bryant again, and his strikeout rate is a concern, it would take some pretty big regression for him not to play at an All-Star level again in 2016. Bryant is a star at the national level, and that will help him win the third base vote.

Reserves: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies. Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals.

That’s going to force some really good players into a reserve role, most notably Arenado. Even taking Coors Field into account, Arenado’s 42-homer, 130-RBI season with terrific defense last year was impressive, and he’s only been better at the plate to start 2016.

Carpenter found a sudden burst of power last year with 28 home runs to more than double his career high, and his patient approach will lead to great numbers at the plate yet again this season.

Next: Outfield

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