MLB All-Star Game 2017: Rosters, AL, NL Lineups and Pitching Breakdown

The history of the All-Star Game has seen the two leagues take long turns dominating the Midsummer Classic.

The first All-Star Game was played in 1933, and the American League won that game by a 4-2 margin en route to winning 12 of the first 16.

It took a while, but the National League battled back and tied the series in 1964, when Johnny Callison of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the NL a 7-4 victory at Shea Stadium in New York.

The National League won the following year in Minnesota to take the series lead, and they have had the advantage ever since. When the NL was victorious in 1982 in Montreal, it gave them 19 victories in 20 All-Star Games.

The American League finally turned things around in 1983, when Fred Lynn of the California Angels hit a grand slam and the AL picked up a 13-3 win at Chicago's Comiskey Park. The AL took command shortly thereafter, and that league has been on a 22-6-1 roll since 1988.

When the two sides take the field at Marlins Park Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, the American League will have an opportunity to tie the series. The National League leads 43-42-2.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

American League

Starters

C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals: 18 HR, 57 RBI
1B Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays: 23 HR, 56 RBI
2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: 25 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs
3B Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians: 16 HR, 46 RBI
SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros: 20 HR, 65 RBI
OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: 1.139 OPS, 30 HR, 66 RBI
OF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox: 16 HR, 15 SB, 53 RBI
OF George Springer, Houston Astros: 27 HR, 61 RBI
DH Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay Rays: .903 OPS, 17 HR    

Reserves

C Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
1B Yonder Alonso, Oakland Athletics
2B Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
2B Starlin Castro, New York Yankees
2B Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
3B Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
3B Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
OF Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
OF Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
DH Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

The American League will try to attack the National League pitching staff with an outstanding mix of power and skill. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is the most eye-catching player, as he has broken the team record for home runs by a rookie, hitting 30 long balls this year. That record had been held by all-time great center fielder Joe DiMaggio.

He will be joined by George Springer of the Houston Astros (27 home runs) and Justin Smoak of the Toronto Blue Jays (23). 

Jose Altuve of the Astros is having a remarkable year, with 25 doubles, two triples and 13 homers. Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox has 16 homers and 15 stolen bases. Catcher Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals has a .532 slugging percentage and is one of the game's best clutch hitters.

Pitching Staff

SP Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox
SP Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros
SP Jason Vargas, Kansas City Royals
SP Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
SP Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
SP Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
SP Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
SP Luis Severino, New York Yankees
SP Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
RP Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox
RP Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians
RP Chris Devenski, Houston Astros
RP Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota Twins
RP Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays
RP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees

The AL pitching staff features Chris Sale of the Red Sox, Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays, Luis Severino of the Yankees, Andrew Miller of the Cleveland Indians and Craig Kimbrel of the Red Sox.

Sale appears well-prepared to be the starter for the American League, as he did last year in San Diego. The left-hander has an 11-4 record, with a 2.75 ERA and 178 strikeouts. Archer pitched Sunday against the Red Sox and has had a bounce-back season after a poor 2016. Severino has a 3.54 ERA and has held opponents to a .230 batting average while striking out 124 hitters.

Miller has been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball for the past two seasons, and he has a 1.42 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .132 against him. Kimbrel has 23 saves in 24 opportunities, along with a 1.19 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .110.

National League

Starters

C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants: .325 BA, 10 HR, 35 RBI
1B Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals: .969 OPS, 19 HR, 63 RBI
2B Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals: .342 BA, 64 RBI
3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies: .905, 17 HR, 70 RBI
SS Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds: .316 BA, 35 RBI
OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals: 1.021 OPS, 20 HR, 65 RBI
OF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies: .319 BA, 20 HR, 61 RBI
OF Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins: 23 HR, 69 RBI

Reserves

C Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
1B Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
1B/OF Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
2B Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
2B D.J. LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
3B Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks
3B Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
OF Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves
OF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
OF Michael Conforto, New York Mets

The National League lineup features Bryce Harper, who led all players in votes for the All-Star Game. The Washington Nationals outfielder has 20 home runs and a 1.021 OPS.

Fellow outfielder Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies has 20 home runs and 61 RBI, while teammate Nolan Arenado has 17 homers and 70 RBI while dazzling at third base.

Buster Posey has been the lone bright spot for the San Francisco Giants this year, and he will be behind the plate with a .325 average and 10 home runs. Daniel Murphy of the Nationals leads the league with a .342 batting average and has driven in 64 runs.

Pitching Staff

SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
SP Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
SP Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
SP Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
SP Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
RP Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
RP Wade Davis, Chicago Cubs
RP Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers
RP Greg Holland, Colorado Rockies
RP Brad Hand, San Diego Padres
RP Pat Neshek, Philadelphia Phillies

The National League pitchers will try to counter the American League starters and reserves with an array of talent.

While Clayton Kershaw is probably the best pitcher in baseball, he will not pitch Tuesday as a result of starting the Los Angeles Dodgers' game Sunday against the Royals.

However, Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Stephen Strasburg and Alex Wood should be able to step in and perform well. 

While manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs has not announced the NL starter, Scherzer could get the call. He has a 2.10 earned run average and opponents are hitting just .163 off of him. The Nationals man has struck out 173 batters in 128.1 innings.

Greinke has an 11-4 record with a 2.86 ERA, and Strasburg has a 9-3 record with a 3.43 ERA while opponents are hitting .222 off of him. Wood, who was chosen as a replacement for Kershaw, has a 10-0 record and a 1.67 ERA.

The NL bullpen features Kenley Jansen and Wade Davis, and those two should be well-prepared if their team has the lead in the late innings.

---

All stats courtesy of MLB.com.