Should we be surprised that the Baltimore Orioles are playing this well?
Steve Gardner admits that most pundits don’t think the Orioles will play well, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue at this pace.
Sports Serious, USA Today
As the tides continue to turn in Major League Baseball, the All-Star Game is getting very different rosters. and 93rd The Midsummer Classic, which takes place July 11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, will reflect the sport’s emerging young talent and the changing color of the stages.
The full rosters for the game were announced Sunday, and joining the starters will be a bevy of first-timers who are also longtime veterans. Seven National League starting pitchers are leading the way to make All-Star debuts, including strikeout king Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves.
Meanwhile, teams that separated themselves from the pack were fairly rewarded. The Texas Rangers, surprise leaders of the American League West, received six overall picks — including pitcher Nate Ewaldi, a solid candidate to start the game — along with their four starters. The Baltimore Orioles have four since 2016 as their resurgence includes a quartet of first-time All-Stars.
The Atlanta Braves, who recently hit 61 home runs in June — a record for any month — had eight players named to the team.
The players who made Sunday’s roster came through player votes and manager selections, in conjunction with the league, ensuring all 30 teams are represented. A host of roster additions will come in to replace injured players and starting pitchers whose schedule will not allow them to pitch in the game.
Check out the full All-Star rosters:
First base: Yandy Diaz, Res
Second base: Marcus Siemian, Rangers
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers
Third base: Josh Jung, Rangers
catcher: Jonah Heim, Rangers
out of town: Aaron Judge, Yankees
out of town: Randy Arosarena, Rays
out of town: Mike Trout, Angels
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
AL reserve infielders
Bo Pichet, Blue Jays: Leads the AL with 113 hits and 32 multi-hit games and is second in total bases (181).
Jose Ramirez, defenders: Still a hitting machine, with a .366 OBP and .884 OPS.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays: Just 12 home runs. His 52 RBI ranks 11th in the AL.
Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays: Eighteen stolen bases and a .282 average give him throwback value.
AL catchers
Atlirutchman, Orioles: His 52 walks rank second in the AL and his .374 OBP ranks sixth.
Salvador Perez, RoyalsLeads AL catchers with 15 homers, albeit with a .290 OBP.
AL outfielders
Lewis Robert Jr., White Sox: Already doubled his career high with 24 home runs and leads AL outfielders in WAR (3.7).
Austin Hays, Orioles: Ranks third in AL in batting average (.312) and has 27 multi-hit games.
Adolis Garcia, Rangers: Second among AL outfielders in home runs (20) and OPS (.830).
Brent Rooker, athlete: Rooker has 13 home runs and a 128 adjusted OPS in one of the few bright spots in a tough season in Oakland.
Yordon Alvarez, Astros: He would miss the game with an oblique strain, but before that ripped 17 home runs with a .978 OPS.
AL starting pitchers
LH Shane McClanahan, Rays: Leads 11 hits paired with 2.53 ERA and .211 opponents batting average, but a back injury will prevent him from pitching in the game.
RH Gerrit Cole, Yankees: A 1.14 WHIP, 118 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings and 13 of 17 allowing two or fewer runs.
RH Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays: Leads in strikeouts (146) and 10 starts of at least six innings pitched with two or fewer runs.
LH Framber Valdez, Astros: Tops the AL in ERA (2.49) with a 1.05 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 105 innings.
RH Nate Ewaldi, Rangers: Excellent (0.99 WHIP) and durable (AL-best 112 1/3 innings pitched) makes second All-Star appearance.
RH Sonny Gray, Twins: Ranks second in the AL in ERA (2.50) and has given up the fewest home runs (3) of any starter.
RH Michael Lorenson, Tigers: A first-time pick and lone Tiger has a WHIP of 1.17.
RH Luis Castillo, Marines: The three-time All-Star will represent the Mariners in Seattle.
AL relief pitchers
RH Felix Bautista, Orioles: Another mountain is coming to Seattle to join Rainier. Bautista has 22 saves, striking out 79 in 38 2/3 innings.
RH Yennier Cano, Orioles: Began the season with 32 consecutive hitless at-bats, and 20 consecutive games without a walk; He maintains a WHIP of 0.84.
RH Kenley Johnson, Red Sox: In a season in which he eclipsed 400 saves, Johnson has 17 saves for the Red Sox and is making his first appearance for the AL team after three with the Dodgers.
RH Emmanuel Class, Guardians: Second straight All-Star appearance as Klaas is tied for the major league lead with 24 saves.
All-Star Starters: Fans pick seven first-timers — plus Shohei Ohtani
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Second base: Luis Ares, Marlins
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Braves
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
catcher: Sean Murphy, Braves
out of town: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
out of town: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
out of town: Ronald Coyne Jr., Braves
NL infielders
Matt Olson, Braves: Shohei Ohtani’s 28 home runs and his 68 RBI lead all of baseball.
Ozzie Albies, Braves: Leads all second basemen with 20 homers and 59 RBI and is second in extra base hits.
Austin Riley, The brave ones: Can we stay in Atlanta? Riley’s 88 hits and 57 runs are second most among third basemen.
Dansby Swanson, Cubs: Leads all NL shortstops in WAR in first season in Chicago.
Pete Alonso, Mets: The Lone Meds Exam – Who would have thought in March? – Has hit 24 home runs with an .817 OPS.
NL catchers
Will Smith, Dodgers: Leads all catchers in OPS (.891) and ranks third in the NL with 12 homers among catchers.
Elias Diaz, Rockies: Colorado’s sole representative is its biggest bright spot with a 1.8 WAR.
NL outfielders
Nick Castellanos, Phillies: Carrying the Phillies at times, Castellanos is third in the NL with a .316 average and has 12 homers and an .874 OPS.
Lourdes Curiel Jr., Diamondbacks: Arizona was the big winner in the deal that sent Kuriel to the desert, as he hit 13 home runs and has a 118 adjusted OPS.
Juan Soto, parent: Soto has overcome a slow start as he ranks second in the NL with a .424 OBP and fifth with a .926 OPS.
Jorge Soler, Marlins: The DH and 2021 World Series MVP finally became an All-Star at age 31 with 22 homers and a 134 adjusted OPS.
NL starting pitchers
RH Marcus Stroman, Cubs: Pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 14 of 18 starts.
RH Zach Galen, Diamondbacks: His 3.3 fWAR is second only to Gausman in the majors; 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA in nine starts following the Arizona loss.
RH Mitch Keller, Pirates: Won nine matches and scored 118 runs in 105 innings.
LH Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: His 2.55 ERA ranks sixth in the NL.
RH Price Elder, Braves: A modern rarity with a fastball that only touches the low 90s – yet he ranks second in the NL with a 2.44 ERA.
RH Spencer Strider, Braves: Elder’s opposite number on his staff, Strider strikes out batters in a hurry – an NL-leading 155 in 98 1/3 innings, 37 more than any NL pitcher.
LH Justin Steele, Cubs: NL leader in ERA (2.43) and WHIP (1.03).
RH Josiah Gray, Nationals: The lone Nationals representative has thrown 95 innings with a 1.38 WHIP.
NL relievers
RH Alexis Diaz, Reds: Converted 23 of 24 save chances.
RH Camilo Dowell, Giants: NL-leading 24 saves with 53 strikeouts in 38 innings
LH Josh Hader, Padres: Fifth All-Star nod but first in San Diego, where his 0.94 WHIP is as stingy as ever.
RH Devin Williams, Brewers: Hader’s Milwaukee replacement earns his second All-Star nod with 17 saves and a 0.98 WHIP.
