MLB All-Star Game 2017: Starting Lineups, Prediction, Betting Odds

Max Scherzer Bryce Harper — Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer, pictured at Nationals Park on June 8, 2017 in Washington, D.C., will both start in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. Getty Images

The biggest questions surrounding the 2017 MLB All-Star Game have now been answered with the announcement of the starting lineups. Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale will toe the rubber for the American League, and Washington Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer will throw the game’s first pitch for the National League.

Considering the way both players pitched in the first half of the baseball season, there wasn’t a whole lot of suspense regarding whom the two managers would pick to start. Joe Maddon said he would have chosen Scherzer even if Clayton Kershaw didn’t pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday. Sale was the obvious choice for the AL, and he’s favored to win the Cy Young award in his first year with Boston.

READ: MLB Home Run Derby 2017 Betting Odds

Having started the game last year, Sale will make history when he pitches Tuesday night at Marlins Park. No other pitcher in MLB history has been a starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in consecutive years while representing two different teams. Sale went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA in 2016 for the Chicago White Sox, with whom he spent the first seven years of his career.

Sale is the first pitcher to start the All-Star game in two straight years since Randy Johnson did it in 2001. Scherzer is making the second All-Star start of his career, though his first one came as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2013.

Scherzer is one of four Nationals that will take the field for the NL in the top of the first inning. Bryce Harper is scheduled to hit third and play right field, while first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is hitting seventh. Second baseman Daniel Murphy is hitting fifth, and he’s the only NL player that has a higher batting average than either Harper of Zimmerman.

Washington has a 9.5-game lead in the NL East, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have the NL’s best record. No L.A. players, however, are in the starting lineup.

The Houston Astros have the AL’s best record, and the team’s best players will dominate the starting lineup. Second baseman Jose Altuve will lead off, as he did a year ago. Left fielder George Springer is in the No.5 spot, and he’ll be immediately followed by shortstop Carlos Correa.

New York Yankees’ slugger and current leading MVP candidate Aaron Judge will hit third. He’s the only rookie in either starting lineup.

This is the first year since 2002 in which the MLB All-Star game won’t decide home-field advantage in the World Series.

Betting Odds: NL -115, AL -105

Prediction: AL over NL, 6-4

AL Starting Lineup NL Starting Lineup

2B Jose Altuve, Astros CF Charlie Blackmon, Rockies

3B Jose Ramirez, Indians DH Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

RF Aaron Judge, Yankees RF Bryce Harper, Nationals

LF George Springer, Astros C Buster Posey, Giants

SS Carlos Correa, Astros 2B Daniel Murphy, Nationals

1B Justin Smoak, Blue Jays 3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies

DH Corey Dickerson, Rays 1B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals