On July 13th, the 91st Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be hosted at Coors field in Denver. First established in 1933, All-Star games have become a tradition in the game of baseball. They are played not only in professional leagues but across recreational leagues as well. Major League Baseball is divided into two sub-leagues called the American League and the National League, and the two teams during the All-Star Game consist of the all-stars of each league.
How are Players Selected to be an All-Star?
The all-stars of each game are selected according to a ballot. In the MLB, the ballot consists of a two-round vote and its candidates are voted by the fans. During the second round of voting, the amount of candidates per position is narrowed to 3 candidates. The winner of the vote starts in the game, and gets replaced by backups later throughout the game.
All-Star Game History
The American League currently has the most wins with a record of 45 wins, 43 losses, and 2 ties. Previously, the American League had been on a 7-game winning streak. The question everyone wants answered is: “Will the American League extend their winning streak to 8 games?” The National League has not won an All-star game since 2012. Unfortunately, this question could not be answered last year due to the pandemic. The pandemic was one of two rare instances of an All-Star game cancelled (the other occurring in 1945 due to WWII).
All-Star Game Prediction
According to the ballot results, it is likely that the National League will win the 2021 All-Star Game. The managers of the 2021 All-Star Game are Kevin Cash, representing the American League, and Dave Roberts, representing the National League. Despite having won the Manager of the Year Award for 2020, Cash made a costly decision that made many fans question his managing ability. It is often argued that this decision cost the Tampa Bay Rays the World Series Championship last year. However, Roberts is a reputable manager and has led the Los Angeles Dodgers to success for a multitude of years. Although managing ability is often considered trivial during the All-Star Game, the National League however may have a slight advantage. One of the National league starters is Fernando Tatis Jr, and despite being a rookie, he has been very successful this year and is considered a prime candidate for Most Valuable Player of 2021. On the other hand, Mike Trout, a 2-year MVP and a 7-year All-Star Game starter for the American League, has played a significant role in the American League’s 7-year winning streak. Currently, he is unable to participate in the game due to strain on his right calf, ultimately hurting their chances of continuing their streak. In addition, the National League possesses pitchers such as Kevin Gausman, Brandon Woodruff, and Zack Wheeler, all of whom have exhibited stellar performances so far this year. Gausman and Woodruff have the second and third best Earned Run Averages in all of Major League Baseball, and Wheeler currently leads Major League Baseball in the number of strikeouts. Despite the fact that these pitchers will only pitch for 1 inning, the National League pitching is much stronger than that of the American League. Except for a few pitchers from the American League, the rest of the pitchers have had average years, and will likely not be as successful as the pitchers of the National League. In conclusion, it is likely that the National League will break their 7-game losing streak with their first win since 2012.