Final 2022 MLB All-Star Game Roster Predictions

It's time to make our final 2022 MLB All-Star Game picks before the full American League and National League rosters are announced Sunday night on ESPN.

In the past, we've made our selections based solely on who is most deserving, with our final round of merit-based picks released July 2.

Now it's time to pivot our focus to predicting who will actually make the team as opposed to simply who is most deserving, which is not always one and the same.

With the AL and NL starters announced Friday afternoon, 18 of the 64 spots have been filled. Keeping in mind the rule of one representative for every team and the roster construction of 20 position players and 12 pitchers for each league, we gave our best guess for who will fill out the other 46 slots.

AL Starting Lineup

1. DH Shohei Ohtani, LAA
2. CF Mike Trout, LAA
3. RF Aaron Judge, NYY
4. 3B Rafael Devers, BOS
5. LF Giancarlo Stanton, NYY
6. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR
7. 2B Jose Altuve, HOU
8. SS Tim Anderson, CWS
9. C Alejandro Kirk, TOR
SP Justin Verlander, HOU

Notes

-The starting lineups for each team were announced Friday afternoon, so there's no predicting to be done here in terms of who makes the cut, but we can take a crack at guessing what the batting order will look like.

-There is still the matter of naming a starting pitcher, and it looks like a two-man race between Shane McClanahan (16 GS, 9-3, 1.74 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 133 K, 98.1 IP) and Justin Verlander (16 GS, 11-3, 2.00 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 98 K, 103.1 IP). Track record, a good narrative with his stellar return from Tommy John surgery, and the fact that Houston's Dusty Baker is managing the AL squad might be enough for Verlander to outweigh McClanahan's superior numbers.

AL Reserves (Position Players)

C Jose Trevino, NYY
1B Ty France, SEA
2B Andres Gimenez, CLE
3B Jose Ramirez, CLE
SS Xander Bogaerts, BOS
IF Luis Arraez, MIN
OF Andrew Benintendi, KC
OF Julio Rodriguez, SEA
OF George Springer, TOR
OF Kyle Tucker, HOU
DH Yordan Alvarez, HOU
DH Miguel Cabrera, DET-commissioner's pick

Notes

-It was announced on Wednesday that MLB's new labor agreement includes a clause that allows the commissioner to select one player to each league's roster in recognition of career achievements. Along with the announcement of the starters on Friday, future Hall of Famers Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols were named to the rosters under that clause.

-These 12 reserve picks include eight first-time All-Stars in Jose Trevino, Ty France, Andres Gimenez, Luis Arraez, Andrew Benintendi, Julio Rodriguez, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez.

-If outfielder Austin Hays winds up being the only representative for the Baltimore Orioles, there will be a tough decision to make on which outfielder to snub. Benintendi likely won't be an option as the clear choice to be the Kansas City Royals' lone pick.

AL Reserves (Pitchers)

SP Dylan Cease, CWS
SP Nestor Cortes, NYY
SP Logan Gilbert, SEA
SP Alek Manoah, TOR
SP Shane McClanahan, TB
SP Frankie Montas, OAK
SP Martin Perez, TEX
RP Emmanuel Clase, CLE
RP Clay Holmes, NYY
RP Jorge Lopez, BAL
RP Gregory Soto, DET

-Assuming the "legend" pick of Cabrera does not fulfill the Detroit Tigers representative slot, closer Gregory Soto could be an All-Star for the second year in a row. Starters Frankie Montas (OAK) and Martin Perez (TEX) and reliever Jorge Lopez (BAL) are also our only picks for their respective teams, though Paul Blackburn could also be the pick for the Athletics.

-Logan Gilbert (No. 14 in 2018) and Alek Manoah (No. 11 in 2019) are both living up to their first-round pedigree as two of the most promising young aces in the game.

-Who would have guessed it would be Nestor Cortes and Clay Holmes as the most deserving All-Star pitchers for the New York Yankees and not Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman?

Notable Projected AL Snubs

C Jonah Heim, TEX
1B Anthony Rizzo, NYY
2B Gleyber Torres, NYY
SS Carlos Correa, MIN
SS Jeremy Pena, HOU
OF Byron Buxton, MIN
OF Austin Hays, BAL
OF Taylor Ward, LAA
DH J.D. Martinez, BOS
SP Gerrit Cole, NYY
SP Framber Valdez, HOU
RP Ryne Stanek, HOU

-A few pitchers always wind up ineligible to pitch after making their final start too close to the All-Star break, so expect Framber Valdez to find his way onto the roster eventually. He was by far the toughest omission on the AL staff.

-Rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena also has a good chance of earning a replacement spot with AL manager Dusty Baker getting a chance to watch him on an everyday basis. The more established Xander Bogaerts is more likely to snag a reserve spot right off the bat, though.

-It was a tough call between former teammates Jose Trevino (109 OPS+, 12 XBH, 2.2 WAR) and Jonah Heim (125 OPS+, 21 XBH, 1.7 WAR) for the backup catcher spot, and it's not out of the question that both could find their way onto the roster.

BAL (1): RP Jorge Lopez

BOS (2): 3B Rafael Devers, SS Xander Bogaerts

CWS (2): SS Tim Anderson, SP Dylan Cease

CLE (3): 2B Andres Gimenez, 3B Jose Ramirez, RP Emmanuel Clase

DET (2): RP Gregory Soto, DH Miguel Cabrera

HOU (4): 2B Jose Altuve, OF Kyle Tucker, DH Yordan Alvarez, SP Justin Verlander

KC (1): OF Andrew Benintendi

LAA (2): OF Mike Trout, DH Shohei Ohtani

MIN (1): IF Luis Arraez

NYY (5): C Jose Trevino, OF Aaron Judge, OF Giancarlo Stanton, SP Nestor Cortes, RP Clay Holmes

OAK (1): SP Frankie Montas

SEA (3): 1B Ty France, OF Julio Rodriguez, SP Logan Gilbert

TB (1): SP Shane McClanahan

TEX (1): SP Martin Perez

TOR (4): C Alejandro Kirk, 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., OF George Springer, SP Alek Manoah

NL Starting Lineup

1. CF Ronald Acuna Jr., ATL
2. SS Trea Turner, LAD
3. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, STL
4. 3B Manny Machado, SD
5. DH Bryce Harper, PHI (injured)
6. RF Mookie Betts, LAD
7. C Willson Contreras, CHC
8. LF Joc Pederson, SF
9. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., MIA
SP Sandy Alcantara, MIA

Notes

-There is one big decision to be made in the NL starting lineup, and that's who will replace the injured Bryce Harper (thumb) as the starting designated hitter. Assuming there is no obligation to go with someone who was a DH on the ballot to fill that spot, first basemen Pete Alonso and Freddie Freeman would seem to be the most obvious candidates.

-The starting pitcher nod should go to Sandy Alcantara (17 GS, 9-3, 1.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 107 K, 123.1 IP) for his more impressive workload, but don't sleep on Los Angeles Dodgers breakout star Tony Gonsolin (16 GS, 11-0, 1.62 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 80 K, 88.2 IP) since the game is at Dodger Stadium.

NL Reserves (Position Players)

C Will Smith, LAD
1B Pete Alonso, NYM
1B Josh Bell, WAS
1B Freddie Freeman, LAD
2B Jeff McNeil, NYM
3B Nolan Arenado, STL
3B Austin Riley, ATL
SS Dansby Swanson, ATL
IF Brandon Drury, CIN
OF Starling Marte, NYM
OF Bryan Reynolds, PIT
OF Kyle Schwarber, PHI (injury replacement)
DH Albert Pujols, STL-commissioner's pick

-We mentioned the decision to be made on who replaces Harper in the starting lineup, but there's also a choice to be made to fill his spot on the roster. Giving the slot to his teammate and NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber feels fitting.

-Infielder Brandon Drury (CIN) and outfielder Bryan Reynolds (PIT) are the lone representatives for their teams, though both have put together All-Star-caliber seasons separate from those requirements. If closer David Bednar is the pick for the Pirates, it would free up a spot in the NL outfield for the Mets' Brandon Nimmo.

-Third baseman Austin Riley was snubbed from the All-Star team last year despite an .826 OPS with 14 home runs and 42 RBI at the break, and he's in a tight spot again this year with Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado also options at third base. However, Braves manager Brian Snitker picking the final reserves for the NL squad should help his chances.

NL Reserves (Pitchers)

SP Corbin Burnes, MIL
SP Max Fried, ATL
SP Zac Gallen, ARI
SP Tony Gonsolin, LAD
SP Joe Musgrove, SD
SP Carlos Rodon, SF
SP Julio Urias, LAD
SP Zack Wheeler, PHI
RP Daniel Bard, COL
RP Edwin Diaz, NYM
RP Josh Hader, MIL

Notes

-Starter Zac Gallen (ARI) and closer Daniel Bard (COL) are the only picks for their respective teams, and the D-backs pick was the toughest of any team to nail down. Second baseman Ketel Marte is also a viable candidate, and that would open the door for one of a number of other deserving NL starting pitchers.

-Left-hander Max Fried has 13 quality starts in his last 15 outings, and he has not only pitched his way onto the All-Star Game roster but also into the NL Cy Young conversation with a 1.35 ERA in his last four starts.

-The trio of Fried, Gallen and Bard would be joined by Tony Gonsolin, Joe Musgrove and Julio Urias as first-time All-Stars on this projected NL staff. Closer Josh Hader has the most All-Star appearances of anyone in the group with three in the last four years.

Notable Projected NL Snubs

C Tyler Stephenson, CIN
1B C.J. Cron, COL
2B/SS Tommy Edman, STL
OF Ian Happ, CHC
OF Brandon Nimmo, NYM
OF Juan Soto, WAS
DH William Contreras, ATL
SP Miles Mikolas, STL
SP Aaron Nola, PHI
SP Kyle Wright, ATL
RP Ryan Helsley, STL
RP A.J. Minter, ATL

Notes

-Tommy Edman is one of only four position players with at least 4.0 WAR, but much of his value has come from his defense, and that is often the type of player who winds up snubbed when All-Star rosters are released. Just ask zero-time All-Star Andrelton Simmons.

-Slugger C.J. Cron has a 136 OPS+ with 20 home runs and 65 RBI, but he faces a steep uphill battle with Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Freddie Freeman and Josh Bell also in the mix among NL first basemen.

-Non-closer relievers often get overlooked, which is why A.J. Minter (39 G, 17 HLD, 1.75 ERA, 12.0 K/9) and Ryan Helsley (27 G, 5 HLD, 0.77 ERA, 13.6 K/9) find themselves on the projected snub list despite stellar numbers.

ARI (1): SP Zac Gallen

ATL (4): 3B Austin Riley, SS Dansby Swanson, OF Ronald Acuna Jr., SP Max Fried

CHC (1): C Willson Contreras

CIN (1): IF Brandon Drury

COL (1): RP Daniel Bard

LAD (6): C Will Smith, 1B Freddie Freeman, SS Trea Turner, OF Mookie Betts, SP Tony Gonsolin, SP Julio Urias

MIA (2): 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., SP Sandy Alcantara

MIL (2): SP Corbin Burnes, RP Josh Hader

NYM (4): 1B Pete Alonso, 2B Jeff McNeil, OF Starling Marte, RP Edwin Diaz

PHI (3): OF Kyle Schwarber (injury replacement), DH Bryce Harper (injured), SP Zack Wheeler

PIT (1): OF Bryan Reynolds

SD (2): 3B Manny Machado, SP Joe Musgrove

SF (2): OF Joc Pederson, SP Carlos Rodon

STL (3): 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 3B Nolan Arenado, DH Albert Pujols

WAS (1): 1B Josh Bell

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Tuesday's games.