2015 MLB All-Star Game Roster: Most Dangerous Hitters in AL, NL Lineups

Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game will be without some of the game's top talents. Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Cabrera and Matt Holliday are among the players who had to pull out due to injury, leaving two of the game's best power hitters and one of the best all-around talents on the sidelines.

Luckily, MLB has more than enough stars to fill the coffers.

The AL-NL battle will feature arguably the game's two best all-around players, a phalanx of top-tier sluggers and even some speedsters who strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. Who are the most dangerous hitters who will be in the starting lineups at Great American Ball Park? Here is a look at a pair of players who stand out on each side of the field.

NL: Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Harper has been the most dangerous hitter in baseball this season, so it's only natural he makes the cut. The NL MVP favorite has a slash line of .339/.464/.704 with 26 home runs and 61 runs batted in at the break, already setting career-best marks in the latter two categories.

“He makes it seem like a Nintendo game, it’s too easy,” Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez said, per Ben Raby of the Washington Post. “This is the guy we’ve all been waiting for. He’s just lights out. He’s a superstar.”

Harper currently leads all batters in wins above replacement, offensive production and runs created, per FanGraphs. His wRC+ of 216 is 32 more than the next highest player, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. As the debate between Harper and Trout becomes more realistic than theoretical—Trout was obviously the better player over the last three years—it'll only be more interesting to see these two go head-to-head on the Midsummer Classic stage.

While he'll only get a couple of at-bats Tuesday night, perhaps no player will have more fans on their feet than Harper. 

AL: Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

John Froschauer/Associated Press

We follow the best hitter of baseball's first half with the second-best. Trout started off the season a little slower than he would have liked, but has been on a tear since the start of July. The reigning AL MVP has already hit six home runs this month and has two multi-home run games, one more than he had in the first three months.

Trout, despite not getting the national headlines of Harper, is on his way to a very similar season. He's matched Harper in home runs (26) and has knocked in only six fewer runs. While Harper ultimately gets the edge for his brilliant slash line, there's likely to be some regression toward the mean before the end of the season.

Trout, on the other hand, appears to be headed for another race into September for the MVP trophy. The Angels are sitting in first place in the American League West heading into the break, and the Trout-Albert Pujols middle of the order is finally working out.

A year after taking home the game's MVP, it's safe to say the NL will have an idea whenever Trout is up to the plate.

NL: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Matt York/Associated Press

The most underrated hitter on the planet, Goldschmidt is in the midst of another brilliant campaign. He's already driven in 70 runs and hit 21 home runs to go along with his .340/.455/.610 slash line. It's a promising improvement following his lost 2014 campaign, which never really got going amid a rash of injuries.

"I couldn't care less," Goldschmidt said of his lack of national attention, per The Associated Press (via USA Today). "Maybe that's not the right choice of words but it's just not something I concern myself with."

As it stands, Goldschmidt and Harper comprise a middle of the order that should strike fear into the American League side. Manager Bruce Bochy will have to get to Adrian Gonzalez and Anthony Rizzo at some point, but don't be surprised if he sticks with Goldschmidt as long as possible Tuesday night.

AL: Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

It probably isn't fair to call Donaldson underrated at this point. Being the leading All-Star vote-getter kind of does that to a player. That said, it's a testament to Donaldson that he's built this overall profile despite playing in Oakland and Toronto—two cities that don't exactly find themselves on national television often.

Donaldson is hitting .293/.351/.532 with 21 home runs and 60 RBI to go along with some of the best defensive third base in baseball.

"In my opinion he’s the best third baseman in the game,” Houston Astros reliever Pat Neshek told Robert Macleod of the Globe and Mail. “They would tell him, go get every ball that’s hit to short, get every ball that’s in the stands and man, I’ve never seen anybody who plays so hard. I loved having him as a teammate and knowing he was at third base for me.”

While his defense and hustle might not be on display in an All-Star format—nor should it, really—Donaldson should get a couple of opportunities to flash his power.