2015 MLB All-Star Game: Starting Pitchers, Lineups Revealed for Summer Showcase

Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel and Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Zack Greinke have been named the starting pitchers for the American and National League, respectively, ahead of Tuesday's 2015 MLB All-Star Game.  

Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News first reported the news regarding the pitchers Monday. Then, MLB announced the complete starting lineups and batting orders for the AL and NL teams:

AL Batting Order	Player	NL Batting Order	Player
1	Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels	1	Andrew McCutchen, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
2	Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays	2	Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds
3	Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels	3	Bryce Harper, RF, Washington Nationals
4	Nelson Cruz, DH, Seattle Mariners	4	Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
5	Lorenzo Cain, RF, Kansas City Royals	5	Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
6	Adam Jones, LF, Baltimore Orioles	6	Anthony Rizzo, DH, Chicago Cubs
7	Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City Royals	7	Jhonny Peralta, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
8	Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros	8	Joc Pederson, LF, Los Angeles Dodgers
9	Alcides Escobar, SS, Kansas City Royals	9	DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Colorado Rockies
Pitcher	Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros	Pitcher	Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers

The NL lineup features a lot of youth, but the AL has plenty of firepower and should pose problems for Greinke if he doesn't have his best stuff. According to the Associated Press, this marks the first year the AL won't have one starter from the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.

Considering how valuable Keuchel and Greinke have been to their respective clubs this season, it comes as little surprise both got the nod for the impending showdown at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

ESPN Stats & Info references the impact the two All-Star starters have had in 2015:

Although pitchers often only throw an inning apiece during the Midsummer Classic, Greinke will be viewed as the hurler with the advantage, considering the roll he's been on. In his last start, the 31-year-old blanked the Philadelphia Phillies for eight innings and allowed just one hit, extending his scoreless innings streak to 35.2.

Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin praised Greinke afterward, per MLB.com's Steve Bourbon and Todd Zolecki: "He's the whole package. He's more impressive than the guy [Clayton Kershaw] last night. He had all his pitches working for him. He had command, location and velocity and he makes it look easy at times. There's plenty of good pitchers in the league. He's right at the top of my list."

Greinke leads all of baseball with a 1.39 ERA and sports an 8-2 record for the Dodgers. ESPN Stats & Info put the pitcher's first-half performance in perspective:

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times also supplied more context for Greinke's All-Star starting bid as it pertains to the Dodgers:

In helping Houston to a most surprising surge into the AL playoff picture, Keuchel already has 11 wins, three complete games and two shutouts. Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle highlighted how far Keuchel has ascended recently to get to this point:

"I was able to tell my family but couldn't really tell many more," Keuchel said after the announcement, via CBS Sports MLB. "I never expected this...it's truly an honor"

Astros fans have to be ecstatic to see Keuchel representing their team, which should help ease the blow of Houston's six-game losing streak entering the All-Star break.

The incredible rise of Keuchel along with Greinke's brilliance to upstage his Dodgers teammate, reigning NL MVP Clayton Kershaw, make for two great individual storylines.

Stakes will still be high in Cincinnati with home-field advantage for the World Series on the line. L.A. is atop the NL West, while the Astros still have a chance to win the AL West despite their current slide. The atmosphere may bring to mind an exhibition, but both starting pitchers have plenty to play for and could help their home clubs if they wind up making a deep postseason run.