MLB All-Star Game rosters if decided only by WAR

The National League All-Star roster if decided only by WAR

LINEUP:

1. CF Ronald Acuña Jr: 2.5 WAR

2. C Sean Murphy: 2.5 WAR

3. 1B Freddie Freeman: 2.3 WAR

4. RF Mookie Betts: 2.1 WAR

Tied-5. SS Thairo Estrada and Xander Bogaerts: 2.0 WAR

6. LF: Juan Soto: 1.7 WAR

7. 2B Nico Hoerner: 1.6 WAR

8. 3B Jeimer Candelario: 1.2 WAR

9. DH Paul Goldschmidt: 2.1 WAR

Making this list, I saw how many world-class shortstops would not be all-stars just because they are all in the NL. The NL shortstop snubs include Nolan Gorman (1.9), Dansby Swanson (1.8), and Francisco Lindor (1.5).

What’s even weirder considering the middle infield situation is that 3B is so shallow that I had to dig down a lot for Jeimer Candelario down at forty-first best in the National League.

Sean Murphy has been killing it since his trade to the Braves. He’s in the 99th percentile of all hitters in wOBA at .408, and statcast actually projects him to be at .439. Just goes to show how a change of scenery can drastically change people.

The NL starters have a combined WAR of 18.0. Now let’s stop and look at the bench.

NL Bench

C Will Smith (LAD): 1.7 WAR

1B Owen Miller: 1.3 WAR

2B Tommy Edman: 1.1 WAR

3B Max Muncy: 1.1 WAR

SS Geraldo Perdomo: 2.0 WAR

LF Brandon Nimmo: 1.6 WAR

CF Corbin Carroll: 1.7 WAR

RF Juan Soto: 1.7 WAR

This list has less flashy names, but a lot of production here. Most of these players I believe don’t exactly deserve an All-Star nod, but a few players here do. A combined total WAR of 12.2, this is much weaker than both the starting lineups and the AL bench. A lot of players here I feel are not worth talking about, since there’s nobody that really deserves it.

Geraldo Perdomo is another interesting case. He’s in the bottom 10 percentile of exit velocity stats, hard hits and barrels, and wOBA, but he walks a ton and has 3 OAA. His OPS is up there at the top of the league at .932. With a .413 OBP and .519 slugging, it seems like he is just outperforming the advanced metrics. He is a contact hitter who rarely whiffs and has a great eye. It seems like he just knows his role and body, which allows him to do the things he’s doing. I would take this with a grain of salt, as he is just barely over 100 At bats on the year.

Now let’s finalize the NL roster with the pitchers.

NL Pitchers:

1. Zac Gallen: 2.8 WAR

2. Spencer Strider: 2.0 WAR

3. Mitch Keller: 1.8 WAR

4. Zack Wheeler: 1.8 WAR

5. Justin Steele: 1.8 WAR

6. Clayton Kershaw: 1.6 WAR

7. Michael Wacha: 1.2 WAR

Tied- 8. Dustin May, Bryce Elder, Merril Kelly: 1.2 WAR

10. Matt Strahm: 1.2 WAR

11. Alexis Díaz: 1.1 WAR

12. David Bednar: 0.9 WAR

There’s one player on this list that is leading the way by a mile, Zac Gallen. He is absolutely dealing. WHIP at 1.02, wOBA at a career-low .250. He’s lowered the walks, has better zone command, and he’s made a difference. Easily a Cy Young candidate.

Justin Steele has also improved mightily. He’s jumped to the top 10 percent of the league in soft contact and the top 15 percent in barrels and wOBA. A 1.09 WHIP and 6-1 record will certainly earn him a nod.

Who would win the 2023 MLB All-Star Game if only determined by WAR?

Taking all things into account, lineup, bench, and pitching, the NL would just barely get the win over the AL. The Nl has a total WAR of 55.3, while the AL would have 53.7 WAR. And for bookkeeping, Ronald Acuña or Sean Murphy would win the All-star MVP award.