MLB All Star Roster 2013: Top MVP Sleepers to Watch in Midsummer Classic

This year's MLB All-Star Game at Citi Field promises to be one of the most interesting ones in recent memory. Both rosters are stacked with first-time All Stars, but there are also plenty of well-established stars and future Hall of Famers involved as well.

With the likes of Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, Mike Trout, Carlos Gonzalez, Joey Votto and so many other big-time sluggers starting the game, there is no shortage of potential Most Valuable Player candidates. With that said, there are countless great players on the AL and NL benches that could potentially put on a show as well.

Here are three under-the-radar candidates for MVP, who could possibly outplay their sleeper status and walk away from Flushing, N.Y. with the MVP Award in tow.

Paul Goldschmidt

Perhaps the best player in baseball that casual fans haven't heard of is Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The D-Backs are surprisingly in first place in the NL West over the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, and Goldschmidt is the biggest reason for that. He has been a monster in the middle of Arizona's order, as he boasts a .313 batting average with 21 home runs and 77 RBI. He even has nine stolen bases to boot, and he will take his act to Citi Field on Tuesday.

Truth be told, it's an absolute crime that Goldschmidt isn't starting for the NL. He is almost certainly the front runner in the NL MVP race right now, but he was beat out by Votto in the voting. Votto is having a great season in his own right, but Goldschmidt is playing at an entirely different level. Unfortunately for him, playing in Arizona means that he's an anonymous star. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Goldie is among the elite first basemen in the game this year.

In fact, Goldschmidt leads all first basemen with a 4.8 WAR, and he is tied for fifth among all position players. That is no small feat since defense figures heavily into WAR, and it's easier for non-first basemen to register in that area. Goldschmidt is going to enter the All-Star Game off the bench at some point, and don't be surprised if he delivers a big hit or two to lead the National League to victory.

Manny Machado

It's not overly surprising that Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado tends to be overlooked from time to time. After all, he does play on the same team as AL MVP candidate Chris Davis, and he plays the same position in the same league as Miguel Cabrera. With that said, Machado is having a spectacular year, and he certainly deserves the accolades he has received thus far. The incredible part is that he is doing all of this at 21 years of age.

Machado's run production doesn't jump off the page as Davis takes care of much of that, but his seven home runs and 45 RBI to go along with a .310 average are certainly solid. He also happens to play absolutely fantastic defense at the hot corner. Machado has a WAR of 5.0, which is second-best among AL third basemen behind only Cabrera. According to CSN Baltimore via Elias Sports, Machado is also the youngest player to lead the league in doubles at the All-Star break.

Machado has an amazing 39 doubles, and there is little doubt that many of those doubles will turn into home runs as he matures. Even though Machado isn't even the most-hyped player on his own team, he will be a major factor in the All-Star Game. If the American League wins, it's a pretty good bet that Machado will have hand in it.

Matt Harvey

A pitcher hasn't won the MLB All-Star Game MVP Award since Boston Red Sox starter Pedro Martinez took the honor in 1999, but New York Mets phenom Matt Harvey has a golden opportunity to break the drought. The 24-year-old righty has had a very special season to this point as he sports a 7-2 record with a 2.35 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 130 innings. That was enough to earn him the starting nod for the NL, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

Winning MVP is very difficult for a pitcher because it's rare for one to remain in the game for more than two innings. That will probably be Harvey's limit, but he has the tools necessary to make a huge impact over the course of six outs. The MVP is his for the taking, but he'll have to mow down Mike Trout, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, Jose Bautista and David Ortiz. It can be argued that there has never been such a fine collection of sluggers to start a lineup in All-Star Game history, but it certainly hasn't been seen in many years at the very least.

Since Harvey doesn't have to pitch long, his velocity is going to be insane. Throwing 100 mph will likely be the norm for his fastball, and that gives him a chance against the AL's top six hitters. Provided Harvey is able to have two one-two-three innings with at least three or four strikeouts mixed in, that will probably be enough to earn him the MVP Award, especially in his home ballpark.

Rosters

American League

	Starting Lineup
Position	Player	Team
C	Joe Mauer	MIN
1B	Chris Davis	BAL
2B	Robinson Cano	NYY
3B	Miguel Cabrera	DET
SS	J.J. Hardy	BAL
OF	Adam Jones	BAL
OF	Mike Trout	LAA
OF	Jose Bautista	TOR
DH	David Ortiz	BOS

	Pitchers
Position	Player	Team
RP	Grant Balfour	OAK
RP	Brett Cecil	TOR
RP	Steve Delabar	TOR
SP	Felix Hernandez	SEA
RP	Greg Holland	KC
SP	Justin Masterson	CLE
SP	Matt Moore	TB
RP	Joe Nathan	TEX
RP	Glen Perkins	MIN
RP	Mariano Rivera	NYY
SP	Chris Sale	CWS
SP	Max Scherzer	DET
SP	Chris Tillman	BAL

	Reserves
Position	Player	Team
C	Jason Castro	HOU
C	Salvador Perez	KC
1B	Prince Fielder	DET
2B	Jason Kipnis	CLE
2B	Dustin Pedroia	BOS
2B	Ben Zobrist	TB
3B	Manny Machado	BAL
SS	Jhonny Peralta	DET
OF	Nelson Cruz	TEX
OF	Alex Gordon	KC
OF	Torii Hunter	DET
DH	Edwin Encarnacion	TOR

National League

	Starting Lineup
Position	Player	Team
C	Yadier Molina	STL
1B	Joey Votto	CIN
2B	Brandon Phillips	CIN
3B	David Wright	NYM
SS	Troy Tulowitzki	COL
OF	Carlos Beltran	STL
OF	Carlos Gonzalez	COL
OF	Bryce Harper	WAS

	Pitchers
Position	Player	Team
SP	Madison Bumgarner	SF
RP	Aroldis Chapman	CIN
SP	Patrick Corbin	ARI
SP	Jose Fernandez	MIA
RP	Jason Grilli	PIT
SP	Matt Harvey	NYM
SP	Clayton Kershaw	LAD
RP	Craig Kimbrel	ATL
SP	Cliff Lee	PHI
RP	Mark Melancon	PIT
RP	Sergio Romo	SF
RP	Edward Mujica	STL
SP	Travis Wood	CHC

	Reserves
Position	Player	Team
C	Buster Posey	SF
C	Brian McCann	ATL
1B	Paul Goldschmidt	ARI
1B	Allen Craig	STL
2B	Matt Carpenter	STL
2B	Marco Scutaro	SF
3B	Pedro Alvarez	PIT
SS	Everth Cabrera	SD
SS	Jean Segura	MIL
OF	Domonic Brown	PHI
OF	Michael Cuddyer	COL
OF	Carlos Gomez	MIL
OF	Andrew McCutchen	PIT

*Rosters courtesy of MLB.com

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