2015 MLB All-Star Game: TV Schedule, Rosters and Top Storylines to Follow

The MLB All-Star Game is the only one of its kind that counts for something, although that is just one of the many reasons to watch.

While for other sports this game is just an exhibition that showcases the best in the league, MLB has its championship tied to this event. The winning league in the All-Star Game gets to host the World Series, a rule that has received mostly negative reviews since its inception.

Even without counting that aspect, there is plenty to be excited about in this year's Midsummer Classic. Here is a look at everything you need to know heading into the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.

When: Tuesday, July 14

Where: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

TV: Fox

Broadcast Start Time: 7 p.m. ET

Game Time: 8 p.m. ET

	American League
	National League
Position	Starter	Team
C	Salvador Perez	Kansas City Royals
1B	Miguel Cabrera*	Detroit Tigers
2B	Jose Altuve	Houston Astros
3B	Josh Donaldson	Toronto Blue Jays
SS	Alcides Escobar	Kansas City Royals
OF	Mike Trout	Los Angeles Angels
OF	Lorenzo Cain	Kansas City Royals
OF	Alex Gordon*	Kansas City Royals
DH	Nelson Cruz	Seattle Mariners
Position	Reserve	Team
C	Russell Martin	Toronto Blue Jays
C	Stephen Vogt	Oakland Athletics
1B	Albert Pujols	Los Angeles Angels
1B	Mark Teixeira	New York Yankees
2B	Brock Holt	Boston Red Sox
2B	Jason Kipnis	Cleveland Indians
SS	Jose Iglesias	Detroit Tigers
3B	Manny Machado	Baltimore Orioles
3B	Mike Moustakas	Kansas City Royals
OF	Brett Gardner	New York Yankees
OF	Jose Bautista	Toronto Blue Jays
OF	Adam Jones	Baltimore Orioles
OF	J.D. Martinez	Detroit Tigers
DH	Prince Fielder	Texas Rangers
Position	Pitcher	Team
SP	Chris Archer	Tampa Bay Rays
RP	Dellin Betances	New York Yankees
RP	Brad Boxberger	Tampa Bay Rays
RP	Zach Britton	Baltimore Orioles
RP	Wade Davis	Kansas City Royals
SP	Sonny Gray	Oakland Athletics
SP	Felix Hernandez	Seattle Mariners
RP	Kelvin Herrera	Kansas City Royals
SP	Dallas Keuchel	Houston Astros
RP	Darren O'Day	Baltimore Orioles
RP	Glen Perkins	Minnesota Twins
SP	David Price	Detroit Tigers
SP	Chris Sale	Chicago White Sox
OF	J.D. Martinez	Detroit Tigers
Position	Starter	Team
C	Buster Posey	San Francisco Giants
1B	Paul Goldschmidt	Arizona Diamondbacks
2B	Dee Gordon	Miami Marlins
3B	Todd Frazier	Cincinnati Reds
SS	Jhonny Peralta	St. Louis Cardinals
OF	Bryce Harper	Washington Nationals
OF	Giancarlo Stanton*	Miami Marlins
OF	Matt Holliday*	St. Louis Cardinals
Position	Reserve	Team
C	Yadier Molina	St. Louis Cardinals
C	Yasmani Grandal	Los Angeles Dodgers
1B	Anthony Rizzo	Chicago Cubs
1B	Adrian Gonzalez	Los Angeles Dodgers
2B	DJ LeMahieu	Colorado Rockies
2B	Joe Panik	San Francisco Giants
SS	Brandon Crawford	San Francisco Giants
3B	Nolan Arenado	Colorado Rockies
3B	Kris Bryant	Chicago Cubs
OF	Andrew McCutchen	Pittsburgh Pirates
OF	Joc Pederson	Los Angeles Dodgers
OF	A.J. Pollock	Arizona Diamondbacks
OF	Justin Upton	San Diego Padres
Position	Pitcher	Team
SP	Max Scherzer	Washington Nationals
SP	Gerrit Cole	Pittsburgh Pirates
SP	Zack Greinke	Los Angeles Dodgers
SP	Shelby Miller	Atlanta Braves
SP	Jacob deGrom	New York Mets
SP	Madison Bumgarner	San Francisco Giants
SP	Michael Wacha	St. Louis Cardinals
SP	Carlos Martinez	St. Louis Cardinals
SP	A.J. Burnett	Pittsburgh Pirates
RP	Trevor Rosenthal	St. Louis Cardinals
RP	Mark Melancon	Pittsburgh Pirates
RP	Aroldis Chapman	Cincinnati Reds
RP	Jonathan Papelbon	Philadelphia Phillies
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	Milwaukee Brewers

Top Storylines

Next Generation

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

The last couple of All-Stars Games have been highlighted by a pair of aging New York Yankees stars. Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter each had their farewell tours in their final season before retiring, and each was a major focal point of the game.

While they certainly deserved attention after wildly successful careers, it's finally time for the new generation of young stars to step up and show what they can do. As MLB Communications noted, the league's youth will be well-represented:

This group is highlighted by 23-year-old Mike Trout and 22-year-old Bryce Harper, two players who have been around for a few years but are still putting up incredible numbers. Along with 27-year-old Paul Goldschmidt, these players are clearly becoming the best all-around performers in the sport.

Meanwhile, this All-Star Game will be a chance for even newer players to jump into the spotlight, like rookies Joc Pederson and Kris Bryant, both of whom have displayed some incredible power this season.

Bryant has already received plenty of attention during his young career, but as teammate Anthony Rizzo noted, this hasn't affected him.

"He’s amazing," the fellow All-Star said of Bryant, via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times. "He’s come up with all the hype and all the pressure that people try to put on him, and he’s never fazed, not one bit."

Considering how young some of these players are, we could see some of these names in a lot more All-Star Games going forward.

Missouri Domination

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals have been the two best teams in baseball this season based on record, so it shouldn't be surprising that they are the most represented clubs at the All-Star Game.

Between the Royals (seven players) and the Cardinals (six players), the state of Missouri will send 13 players to Cincinnati. This includes six combined starters, though each side could have had even more, with a few who just missed the cut.

Still, the most amazing part was the way the two sides ensured they would win the Final Vote. As Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star pointed out, the Royals and Cardinals teamed up to support their players:

This ended up working perfectly, as both Mike Moustakas and Carlos Martinez came away with the last two spots.

With the way these teams have played this season and the amount of talent on each side, it wouldn't be surprising if the All-Star Game becomes a near preview of the World Series.

Veteran Pitchers Getting It Done

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

There are plenty of young pitchers to get excited about, but the bigger story from the mound will be the guys who have been around for a few years and are still dominating. In some cases, they are getting better than ever.

Zack Greinke has a chance to start the All-Star Game for the National League thanks to some video game-type numbers in the first half. Joel Sherman of the New York Post put the pitcher's stats into perspective:

Meanwhile, A.J. Burnett will make his first All-Star appearance after 17 years in the league. The 38-year-old pitcher has been a part of two World Series teams (though he was injured in 2003) and has accomplished quite a lot over the course of about two decades, but this game represents the highest individual honor he has received as a professional.

This is quite a turnaround for a guy who led the league with 18 losses last season.

You also have to admire a pitcher like Wade Davis, who is only 29 years old but seemed like he was on his way out of the majors after posting a 5.32 ERA in 2013. However, the failed starter flourished in the bullpen and is now one of the best in the league at his position.

These players have showcased perseverance and deserve all the accolades they have already received.  

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