2017 MLB All-Star Game: Predictions for Top Players on Starting AL, NL Rosters

The rosters for the 88th All-Star Game are basically set after announcements on the starters, reserves and pitchers were made Sunday for the July 11 event at Miami's Marlins Park.

After more than 50 years of fighting from behind, the American League will have the opportunity to tie the all-time series between the two leagues.

The National League tied the series in 1964 when Johnny Callison of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Shea Stadium in New York to give the NL a 7-4 victory. The NL took the lead the following year with its 6-5 victory at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, and have led the midsummer series since that point.

The Nationals lead the series that began in 1933 by a 43-42-2 margin. The American League has won four games in a row and is 22-6-1 in the series since 1988.

While the All-Star Game winner will no longer earn home-field advantage in the World Series for its league representative, this year's game has a chance to have quite a bit of interest among the fans because of the potential starting pitching matchup of Chris Sale meeting Clayton Kershaw.

Sale has been everything the Boston Red Sox hoped he would be when they traded for him during the offseason with the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old leads the major leagues with 166 strikeouts in 120.2 innings and a 2.61 earned run average. He has an 11-3 record and has put together a 10-1 mark since May 1.

Kershaw is once again the anchor of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff and is often acknowledged as the best pitcher in baseball. The Dallas native is 12-2 with a 2.32 ERA with 135 strikeouts for the first-place Dodgers.

While it will be up to managers Terry Francona (Cleveland Indians) of the American League and Joe Maddon (Chicago Cubs) of the National League to determine how their respective pitching staffs are deployed, it seems likely that closer Craig Kimbrel of the Red Sox will close the game if the American League has the late lead and Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers will do the same if the NL takes a lead going into the final inning.

Kimbrel has been sensational this year with a 1.01 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 23 saves, while Jansen has been amazing for Los Angeles with a 0.79 ERA, 18 saves and just one walk allowed in 34 innings of work.

Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros will start at shortstop for the American League and teammate Jose Altuve will start next to him at second base. That duo may have a chance to jump-start the American League at the top of the lineup, and teammate George Springer will join them in the outfield.

Rookie Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees was the leading vote-getter in the American League, and he should be a commanding presence in the junior circuit's lineup. Judge is hitting .327 with 27 home runs, 62 runs batted in and a 1.135 OPS.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels was also voted into the starting lineup, but he has been out with a torn left thumb ligament. While Trout has not yet returned, there is a chance he could return for the midsummer classic, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. He has won the ASG Most Valuable Player Award twice in his career.

Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals received more votes than any player in the All-Star Game, and he is hitting .318 with 20 home runs and 62 RBI. The 24-year-old belted a pair of home runs in Washington's Sunday night victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rookie Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers will come off the bench for the National League, and he has become one of the top stories of the year. All eyes will be on Bellinger since he has belted an NL-best 24 home runs since he was called up to Los Angeles April 25.

Fans will have a chance to select the final player on each league's roster. Shortstops Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers, Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox and Didi Gregorius of the Yankees, along with first baseman Logan Morrison of the Tampa Bay Rays and third baseman Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals, are the American League candidates for the last roster spot.

Third basemen Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs, Anthony Rendon of the Nationals and Justin Turner of the Dodgers, along with first basemen Justin Bour of the Miami Marlins and Mark Reynolds of the Colorado Rockies, are the NL candidates for that last spot on the roster.

The online vote lasts through Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

All-Star Rosters (per MLB.com)

American League

Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Justin Smoak, Blue Jays
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Jose Ramirez, Indians
SS: Carlos Correa, Astros
OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: George Springer, Astros
DH: Corey Dickerson, Rays

Reserves
C: Gary Sanchez, Yankees
1B: Yonder Alonso, Athletics
2B: Starlin Castro, Yankees
2B: Jonathan Schoop, Orioles
SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians
3B: Miguel Sano, Twins
OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
OF: Michael Brantley, Indians
OF: Avisail Garcia, White Sox
DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners

Pitchers
RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees
RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP: Michael Fulmer, Tigers
LHP: Dallas Keuchel, Astros
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox
RHP: Corey Kluber, Indians
RHP: Lance McCullers Jr., Astros
LHP: Andrew Miller, Indians
LHP: Chris Sale, Red Sox
RHP: Ervin Santana, Twins
RHP: Luis Severino, Yankees
LHP: Jason Vargas, Royals

"Final Vote" Candidates
SS: Elvis Andrus, Rangers
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
SS: Didi Gregorius, Yankees
1B: Logan Morrison, Rays
3B: Mike Moustakas, Royals

National League

Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
2B: Daniel Murphy, Nationals
3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
SS: Zack Cozart, Reds
OF: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
OF: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins

Reserves
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Josh Harrison, Pirates
2B: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies
SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers
3B: Jake Lamb, D-backs
OF: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
OF: Michael Conforto, Mets
OF: Ender Inciarte, Braves
OF: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

Pitchers
RHP: Wade Davis, Cubs
RHP: Zack Greinke, D-backs
LHP: Brad Hand, Padres
RHP: Greg Holland, Rockies
RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Corey Knebel, Brewers
RHP: Carlos Martinez, Cardinals
RHP: Pat Neshek, Phillies
LHP: Robbie Ray, D-backs
RHP: Max Scherzer, Nationals
RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals

"Final Vote" Candidates
1B: Justin Bour, Marlins
3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs
3B: Anthony Rendon, Nationals
1B: Mark Reynolds, Rockies
3B: Justin Turner, Dodgers