All-Star Game 2013: AL and NL Starting Lineups Announced for Midsummer Classic

The wait is over. Major League Baseball announced the starting pitchers and lineups for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game through its official Twitter account:

Since Citi Field—Matt Harvey’s playground—is hosting the Midsummer Classic, many wondered whether NL manager Bruce Bochy would choose the young righty to start. Harvey is 7-2 through 19 starts this season with a 2.35 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 130 innings of work.

Bochy said he would’ve chosen Harvey to start no matter where the game was, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN:

Harvey seems excited to start the game for the NL, per MLB:

AL manager Jim Leyland had an easier choice. Max Scherzer stands out as the most successful pitcher in baseball this season. The Detroit right-hander is 13-1 on the year with a 3.19 ERA. It wasn’t until Scherzer’s most recent start that he suffered his first loss of the year.

Here’s a look at each starting pitcher, per MLB:

Leyland organized his lineup in a manner that many would’ve expected. Miguel Cabrera will hit third with Chris Davis right behind him in the cleanup spot. Cabrera is hitting .365/.458/.674 with 30 home runs and 95 RBI through 93 games. Davis has hit 37 home runs and has 93 RBI through 95 games.

Leyland joked that it would be tough to mess up the AL’s lineup, per MLB:

The New York faithful will rise to their feet when No. 4 hitter David Wright steps into the batter’s box for the NL. Fans voted the Mets captain to start at third base for the Senior Circuit; he’s hit .304/.396/.507 with 13 homers and 44 RBI this year.

One of the more interesting decisions made by Bochy was to bat Bryce Harper ninth. The outfielder has only played in 58 games this season but has still been productive. He's hitting .264/.371/.522 with 13 home runs and 29 RBI. Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reports that Bochy called Harper "Bryan" during the announcement.

No matter what Bochy calls the Nationals star, both will hope to secure home-field advantage for the NL when it takes on the AL Tuesday night at Citi Field.