MLB All Star Game 2011: Which League Has Advantage in All-Star Game?

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Unlike every other sports All-Star exhibition, Major League Baseball’s actually means something. Whichever league wins this contest receives home-field advantage in the World Series.

With just one more day of scheduled games left before we head into the All-Star break, it’s time to run down the league’s to see which team has the advantage heading into the contest.

First, we have to look at who will definitely be unavailable to pitch—and there is a host of All Stars.

Felix Hernandez, David Price, James Shields, Mariano Rivera, Justin Verlander, Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum are all expected to be unavailable.

It’ll be interesting to see if San Fran manager Bruce Bochy will choose to have Roy Halladay go all nine innings to weaken the Phillies…

It’s difficult to go against the NL if Halladay, Jair Jurrjens, Clayton Kershaw and Ryan Vogelsong are all available for the midsummer Classic.

Advantage: NL

It’s once again difficult to go against the National League. The American League will be without Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, though they would not matter much. They have more than serviceable replacements in Asdrubal Cabrera, Adrian Beltre and Michael Young.

Chipper Jones missing the contest due to his knee isn’t even a big blow considering his appearance is along the lines of Jeter’s—nothing more than a nod from the fans.

Jose Reyes missing the game is better off for NL fans, considering he’s a perennial loser and never helps his team win anything.

The infield is far more even with Alex Avila, Adrian Gonzalez, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera, Young and Paul Konerko against Brian McCann, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Troy Tulowitzki. Right now, Gonzalez, Young and Konerko are coming in guns-a-blazing.

Advantage: AL

I’ll take the NL’s reserves over the AL’s, but the AL starters are stacked with “Joey Bats” Jose Bautista, Curtis Granderson and Josh Hamilton. These three alone could win it all for the Americans.

Ryan Braun enters banged up and Matt Kemp hasn’t hit a home run in about two weeks. In the end, though, it comes down to the reserves. With Jay Bruce, Matt Holliday, Hunter Pence and Justin Upton waiting to emerge late in the game, the Nationals have the edge throughout.

It would also be an amazing sight to see Upton win the game in his own park.

Advantage: NL

The National League has the advantage pitching-wise to start the game, more than capable relief pitchers to keep the flow going and the spark plugs off the bench to keep the pressure on late.

Once again, if Bochy’s Giants make it to the World Series, they’ll have the coveted home-field advantage.

It is now time for the Nationals to begin a winning streak of their own and back-to-back All-Star victories is the only way to start.

-Brandon Galvin is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist and Syndicated Writer. Follow Him on Twitter.

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