Barstool Bush
Predictions

American League at National League

By Bush StaffUpdated 40d ago·2 min read
American LeagueAL
National LeagueNL
4—0
FINAL
123456789RHE
AL
300000010470
NL
000000000030

No starting pitcher is locked in for either side, and that's by design. All-Star Game 'starters' change by the batter, with both managers running relay races through their bullpens from the first pitch. What is locked in is the list of arms who won't be part of it: Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski, two of the National League's best, are skipping the exhibition entirely because both are lined up for real starts this weekend.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
AL
4
NL
0
Best BetAL +123
Pregame

The National League sits as the short-money favorite at home, but that price was built before Ohtani, its best player, was ruled out. The American League's active core of Witt, Trout, Greene and Alvarez stacks up fine against a Freeman-Muncy-Pages group missing its headliner, which makes the plus-money dog worth a look.

The absences pile up from there. Judge is dealing with a rib stress fracture and won't play, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pulled himself out with back discomfort, leaving real gaps in the AL's projected lineup. On the other side, Ohtani, the game's leading vote-getter, is managing left knee irritation that's already cost him a scheduled start and now costs the NL its top offensive weapon. Oddsmakers still like the National League to hold serve at home.

That hands the stage to whoever's actually suiting up. Bobby Witt Jr., Mike Trout, Riley Greene and Yordan Alvarez anchor an AL lineup that doesn't lack for thump even without Judge and Guerrero, while Freddie Freeman is soaking up his 10th career selection and Max Muncy and Andy Pages fill out a National League order that's still stacked even with Ohtani sidelined.

American League
American League
(2)
  • 10-Day-ILAaron Judge (RF) — Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Judge will get follow-up imaging on his injured rib during the All-Star break.07/09
  • 10-Day-ILByron Buxton (CF) — The Twins placed Buxton (hip) on the 10-day injured list.07/07
National League
National League
(1)
  • OutShohei Ohtani (DH) — Scratched from his Friday pitching start due to continued left knee irritation and will skip the All-Star Game.07/11

Philadelphia gets its own moment too. Bryce Harper was added as a legend pick after fans and players voted in Freeman and Matt Olson, giving the hometown crowd a reason to roar regardless of what the scoreboard says. It's a nice subplot in a city that's spent the week arguing about who got left off the roster in the first place.

That argument has a face: Zack Wheeler said being passed over again felt disrespectful and turned down a late invite to join as a replacement, tying a career-high with 14 strikeouts in his next start as a not-so-subtle response. Brice Turang has his own case as one of the year's biggest statistical snubs. None of it changes the roster in Philadelphia, but it's the kind of noise that makes an exhibition feel a little more like a real grudge match.

Sources

MLBAmerican LeagueNational LeaguePolymarketKalshi