MLB All-Star Game predictions: Dodgers could dominate starting lineup at home

Catcher: Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs)

Finding himself atop every list of ‘MLB players likeliest to be traded this season’, Willson Contreras has done nothing but add to his value since the year began and adding a third All-Star Game selection would be a nice look on his player profile that already looks outstanding.

By far the most valuable catcher in the National League, Contreras has been one of the lone bright spots on a scuffling Cubs team this season. He currently leads qualifying NL catchers in hits (46), runs scored (35), home runs (10), RBI (23), walks (24), OBP (.403), SLG (.684) and OPS (1.066). That is nearly every single important offensive statistic.

First baseman: Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals)

While the home run is as exciting a play as ever, Mets slugger and NL home run leader Pete Alonso is likely to fall just short of the starting first base gig in this year’s All-Star Game in favor of Paul Goldschmidt.

Goldy has been absolutely mashing the ball to begin this season, hitting 12 home runs, driving in 47 along the way while drawing 31 walks against 49 strikeouts in 56 games. He currently leads NL first baseman in batting average (.338), OBP (.420), SLG (.596) and OPS (1.016) as he continues to pad his Hall of Fame resumé in his age-35 season.

Second baseman: Jazz Chisholm (Miami Marlins)

Truthfully, there aren’t any stat lines that jump off the page when looking at National League second basemen. Jeff McNeil of the Mets or Tommy Edman of the Cardinals could easily swipe this spot but Jazz Chisholm, one of the game’s most exciting young players, is likeliest to win the starting gig.

Chisholm’s strong start to the season has been rife with controversy (going on Twitter to complain about his being benched) but he has looked great in his second full season in the big leagues and has a contagious, high-energy approach to the way he plays the game.

In 44 games so far, Chisholm has been worth 1.9 bWAR and has 21 extra-base hits under his belt already including an NL-leading four triples and 10 home runs to top the NL second baseman leaderboard.

Third baseman: Manny Machado (San Diego Padres)

Manny Machado, much like Jazz Chisholm, has had his fair share of controversies through his career but he continues to be an annual MVP candidate as the years go by.

Machado has nine home runs and 36 RBI in 55 games so far this year to go along with seven stolen bases and a .329 batting average. He currently leads NL third baseman in AVG, OBP (.401), SLG (.543) and OPS (.944) as he, like Goldschmidt, continues to pad his Hall of Fame resumé.

The 29-year-old Machado is on the way to his sixth career All-Star Game selection and perhaps his first career MVP Award. He has two Gold Gloves (also a Platinum Glove) and a Silver Slugger under his belt from his Orioles years and is likely to add another trophy in each of these categories by the end of this season.

Shortstop: Trea Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers)

The further you go through the names of the National League’s best players, the more names you see that are truly electric and make the game of baseball more fun to experience. Trea Turner is yet another one of those names.

Turner, 28, is one of the game’s fastest players (12 stolen bases under his belt already) and has began to hit for more power as the years have gone by, topping out at 28 big flies last season in a year that he won his first (and likely not last) batting title. In 56 games so far in 2022, Turner has a .303 average and a 132 OPS+ and is highly likely to make his second career All-Star Game over and earn the starting shortstop gig over Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Left field: Mike Yastrzemski (San Francisco Giants)

With no true left fielders jumping off the page as clear All-Star Game starters, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Giants RF/CF Mike Yastrzemski is going to make this year’s ASG as the starting left fielder.

Yaz has been worth 1.4 bWAR through 46 games so far this year and has been showing off a great eye at the plate and a seemingly improved bat-to-ball tool that he had such a hard time with last season. He owns a 144 OPS+ a .288 batting average that is certainly ASG worthy and will likely land him a spot in the starting lineup for the first time in his career.

Center field: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Another player (slightly) out of position in the NL lineup, Mookie Betts will be the starting center fielder this year to open up a spot on the field for the likeliest right field selection.

Betts is no stranger to center field (he played 212 innings there last season) so it’s not an outlandish thought to put him there in the All-Star Game.

On offense, Betts has been the most productive player in the National League through his first 54 games on the season. He leads the whole National League with 16 home runs and leads all of the major leagues in runs scored with a whopping 52 already. His .297 batting average and 161 OPS+ has earned him the right to make his sixth career All-Star Game lineup.

Right field: Juan Soto (Washington Nationals)

Juan Soto’s .226 batting average is mildly concerning at first glance. Once you move on to his other stats, however, the outlook begins to change.

The 23-year-old right fielder has played in 58 games so far this season, leading the major leagues with that mark. He has also drawn a shocking 46 walks already, another MLB-leading number. His 12 home runs are fourth behind Mookie Betts amongst qualifying outfielders and his .828 OPS lands him in third behind Betts and Mike Yastrzemski amongst qualifying NL outfielders.

In what is his fifth full season at the big league level (already!), Soto has an All-Star Game appearance under his belt along with a World Series ring, two Silver Slugger Awards and a batting title. Low batting average or not, he is one of the best hitters in the game and will surely be voted in, in case his non-batting average stats weren’t enough to earn him a spot.

Designated hitter: Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)

Largely expected to be a part of the outfield picture in the All-Star Game voting with the presence of Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos in Philly, injuries have forced Bryce Harper to strictly designated hitter duties for the vast majority of the season so far. The injuries have not slowed him down on offense, though, as he has been worth 2.1 bWAR already through his first 50 games on the season.

Harper currently leads all of the National League in SLG with a .628 mark and has 14 home runs and 44 RBI in just under 200 at bats. His 178 OPS+ is good for sixth in the major leagues behind only Paul Goldschmidt in the NL leaderboards. In all facets of the game, Harper has been extremely valuable to this Phillies team once again and he, like multiple others before him in this list, continues to add to his impressive and ever-growing Hall of Fame resumé.

Starting pitcher: Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers)

While the National League pitching leaderboards are full of great choices for this spot, it is so, so difficult to not pick Corbin Burnes to start the All-Star Game for the NL squad.

Burnes, last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner and proud owner of the MLB ERA title, has continued to dominate offenses through 12 starts on the year. His 2.48 ERA isn’t quite in range of leading the NL but he does lead the way in strikeouts with 92 and has allowed just 17 walks so far this year.

Burnes’ devastating cutter and knee-buckling curveball make him one of the most fearsome pitchers in all of baseball and he is the likeliest choice to be voted the starting pitcher in his second career All-Star Game.