National League at American League
The American League's recent dominance of the National League in the All-Star Game is a strange phenomenon seeing as each team shares the most talented players in the world. The AL tries for its seventh straight victory and 19th in the last 23 meetings over the NL on Tuesday in the 90th edition of the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland - the first time in five years the game will be played in an AL ballpark.
The hometown fans will have plenty to cheer about with four Indians on the AL roster including first baseman Carlos Santana (batting fourth), reserve shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitchers Shane Bieber and Brad Hand, who is expected to get the ball in the eighth inning. Houston paces the AL with six representatives including four starters - right fielder George Springer (batting first), third baseman Alex Bregman (sixth), left fielder Michael Brantley (eighth) and right-hander Justin Verlander. The Los Angeles Dodgers also boast five players with a pair of NL starters in right fielder Cody Bellinger (batting fourth) and left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Verlander is starting his second ASG in his eighth appearance while Ryu makes his ASG debut in a matchup of strong Cy Young Award contenders.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: National League LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-2, 1.73 ERA) vs. American League RH Justin Verlander (10-4, 2.98)
Ryu is having a remarkable season, allowing more than two earned runs only once in his 17 starts. NL manager Dave Roberts of Los Angeles has two of his other pitchers at his disposal in Clayton Kershaw, who makes his eighth appearance after a one-year hiatus, and Walker Buehler (first ASG). Kirby Yates (major league-most 30 saves) seems to be a logical choice to serve as Roberts' closer with the right-hander saving San Diego's three consecutive victories at Dodger Stadium over the weekend.
Verlander hasn't been completely sharp of late, yielding three or four earned runs in each of his last six starts after permitting three of more in only three of his first 13 turns. AL manager Alex Cora of Boston will have a plethora of options after Verlander to include the Chicago White Sox' Lucas Giolito, who shares the major league lead with 11 victories, along with Tampa Bay's Charlie Morton and Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi, who have 10 wins apiece. Cora's staff also boasts Houston's Gerrit Cole (AL-most 170 strikeouts) and Ryan Pressly, whose 21 holds are tied for the most in baseball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington RHP Max Scherzer was selected to his seventh straight ASG but will not play (back stiffness), telling reporters: "Our season matters so much more than the All-Star Game."
2. Los Angeles Angels CF Mike Trout is also making his eighth ASG appearance and will bat third.
3. The AL leads the series 44-43-2, including an 8-6 victory in 10 innings last year in the highest-scoring game since the infamous 7-7 tie in 2002.