MLB All-Star Game 2016: AL, NL Rosters and Final Predictions

The 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is nearly here, and the star-studded festivities shouldn't disappoint when things get underway Tuesday night from Petco Park in San Diego.

But before the first pitch flies at 8 p.m. ET on Fox, it's worth taking some time to acquaint yourself with this year's rosters and starting lineups, which you can view below courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info on Twitter: 

So as time ticks down in advance of the Midsummer Classic, here's a rundown of who to keep an eye on when it comes to the National League and American League sides. 

National League Roster

Starters	Position	Team
Reserves	Position	Team
Pitchers	Position	Team
Buster Posey	C	San Francisco Giants
Anthony Rizzo	1B	Chicago Cubs
Ben Zobrist	2B	Chicago Cubs
Kris Bryant	3B	Chicago Cubs
Addison Russell	SS	Chicago Cubs
Carlos Gonzalez	OF	Colorado Rockies
Marcell Ozuna	OF	Miami Marlins
Bryce Harper	OF	Washington Nationals
Jonathan Lucroy	C	Milwaukee Brewers
Wilson Ramos	C	Washington Nationals
Paul Goldschmidt	1B	Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Belt	1B	San Francisco Giants
Wil Myers	1B	Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Murphy	2B	Washington Nationals
Nolan Arenado	3B	Colorado Rockies
Aledmys Diaz	SS	St. Louis Cardinals
Corey Seager	SS	Los Angeles Dodgers
Adam Duvall	OF	Cincinnati Reds
Starling Marte	OF	Pittsburgh Pirates
Odubel Herrera	OF	Philadelphia Phillies
Jay Bruce	OF	Cincinnati Reds
Jake Arrieta	RHP	Chicago Cubs
Bartolo Colon	RHP	New York Mets
Johnny Cueto	RHP	San Francisco Giants
Jeurys Familia	RHP	New York Mets
Jose Fernandez	RHP	Miami Marlins
Kenley Jansen	RHP	Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw	LHP	Los Angeles Dodgers
Jon Lester	LHP	Chicago Cubs
Mark Melancon	RHP	Pittsburgh Pirates
A.J. Ramos	RHP	Miami Marlins
Fernando Rodney	RHP	Miami Marlins
Max Scherzer	RHP	Washington Nationals
Drew Pomeranz	LHP	San Diego Padres
Julio Teheran	RHP	Atlanta Braves

It's hard to discuss this year's NL roster and not marvel at the proliferation of Chicago Cubs players in the starting lineup.

Most notably, the Cubs are fielding the entire starting infield, with first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell hoping to bring some Wrigley Field magic to Petco Park. 

Russell in particular will be looking to make good on his nod since it's snapping a decades-long drought, per ESPN Stats & Info: 

In terms of historical significance, All-Star feats don't get much more rare than what the Cubs have accomplished. According to ESPN.com, Chicago is just the second team in history to send its four starting infielders to the Midsummer Classic as starters. The only other club to boast such status was the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. 

"It's an honor, and to have a lot of my teammates there with me will make it even more fun," Bryant said, per ESPN.com. "Just having your teammates and friends there will make it more special. The nerves probably won't be there as much as last year. You just look around and it's a normal game."

Dexter Fowler would have given Chicago a hefty share of the starting positions on the NL side, but a hamstring injury has sidelined him for the midseason spectacular. And with Yoenis Cespedes (quad) of the New York Mets also out, the Miami Marlins' Marcell Ozuna and the Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez will occupy starting positions in the outfield Tuesday evening, according to an official press release from MLB. 

The Washington Nationals' Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos have been scorching-hot at the plate throughout the first half of the season, and their combined pop off the bench could help the NL solve a wicked AL pitching staff led by starter Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. 

American League Roster

Starters	Position	Team
Reserves	Position	Team
Pitchers	Position	Team
Salvador Perez	C	Kansas City Royals
Eric Hosmer	1B	Kansas City Royals
Jose Altuve	2B	Houston Astros
Manny Machado	3B	Baltimore Orioles
Xander Bogaerts	SS	Boston Red Sox
Mookie Betts	OF	Boston Red Sox
Jackie Bradley Jr.	OF	Boston Red Sox
Mike Trout	OF	Los Angeles Angels
David Ortiz	DH	Boston Red Sox
Stephen Vogt	C	Oakland Athletics
Matt Wieters	C	Baltimore Orioles
Miguel Cabrera	1B	Detroit Tigers
Robinson Cano	2B	Seattle Mariners
Josh Donaldson	3B	Toronto Blue Jays
Francisco Lindor	SS	Cleveland Indians
Eduardo Nunez	SS	Minnesota Twins
Carlos Beltran	OF	New York Yankees
Michael Saunders	OF	Toronto Blue Jays
Ian Desmond	OF	Texas Rangers
Mark Trumbo	OF	Baltimore Orioles
Edwin Encarnacion	DH	Toronto Blue Jays
Dellin Betances	RHP	New York Yankees
Brad Brach	RHP	Baltimore Orioles
Zach Britton	LHP	Baltimore Orioles
Alex Colome	RHP	Tampa Bay Rays
Wade Davis	RHP	Kansas City Royals
Corey Kluber	RHP	Cleveland Indians
Cole Hamels	LHP	Texas Rangers
Will Harris	RHP	Houston Astros
Kelvin Herrera	RHP	Kansas City Royals
Aaron Sanchez	RHP	Toronto Blue Jays
Andrew Miller	LHP	New York Yankees
Jose Quintana	LHP	Chicago White Sox
Chris Sale	LHP	Chicago White Sox
Steven Wright	RHP	Boston Red Sox

Like the Cubs in the NL, the Boston Red Sox reign supreme in the AL.  

And while Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts may drive the hype machine as the AL seeks its fourth straight win with home-field advantage in the World Series up for grabs, David Ortiz should bask in the spotlight as he gets set to ride off into the sunset. 

He spoke about playing in his last All-Star Game, per ESPN.com's Scott Lauber:

"

Having a break is great, you know what I'm saying? But it's not like I'm going to another All-Star Game as a player. Getting around 3 million votes, that's a lot of people that would like to see you out there. That's something I really appreciate, that people take their time to vote for myself and my teammates and want us to be there as a massive group.

"

Tuesday will mark Ortiz's 10th All-Star appearance, and it will serve not only as validation of his personal success this year, but as recognition of everything he's accomplished over the course of an illustrious and hardware-clad career. 

Joining Boston's talented group in Southern California will be a slew of Baltimore Orioles sluggers, several of whom have the power necessary to tilt the game in the AL's favor at a moment's notice. 

Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo have both shone to this point in the season, and their vision at the plate figures to be an invaluable resource for an AL side that will be looking to keep some of MLB's hottest arms at bay. 

Prediction

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Both squads are plenty stacked, so trying to nitpick with regard to which has the edge from a micro perspective is a somewhat futile practice. 

But if there's one macro factor that could decide things, it's the NL's outrageous pitching staff led by Jake Arrieta, Max Scherzer, Johnny Cueto and Jose Fernandez, among others. 

Spreading those four pitchers out over nine innings would be scary enough, but the fact that manager Terry Collins will also have the likes of Jon Lester, Jeurys Familia, Kenley Jansen and Drew Pomeranz at his disposal means there's some serious potential for the NL to keep the AL in check throughout the evening. 

It may not be the most thrilling affair, but if Collins' arms pitch up to par, the National League could be staring at its first All-Star Game win since 2012. 

Prediction: National League 5, American League 3