Should we be surprised the Baltimore Orioles are playing this well?
Steve Gardner admits that most pundits didn’t think the Orioles would be playing this well, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue at this pace.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
With shifting tides in Major League Baseball come vastly different rosters for the All-Star Game. And the 93rd Midsummer Classic on July 11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park will reflect the game’s burgeoning young talent as well as the changing complexion of the standings.
Full rosters for the game were announced on Sunday and joining the starters will be a bevy of first-timers who could be long-timers. Leading that charge are seven National League starting pitchers making All-Star debuts, including strikeout king Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves.
Meanwhile, teams that have separated themselves from the pack were justly rewarded. The Texas Rangers, surprise leaders of the American League West, earned six total selections – including pitcher Nate Eovaldi, a solid candidate to start the game – along with their four starters. The Baltimore Orioles received four, most since 2016 as their resurgence includes a quartet of first-time All-Stars.
And the Atlanta Braves, who recently capped a June in which they hit 61 home runs – a record for any month – had eight players named to the team.
Players named to the roster Sunday came via the players’ vote as well as manager selections in conjunction with the league, ensuring all 30 teams are represented. A bevy of roster additions will come to replace injured players and starting pitchers whose schedule will not allow them to pitch in the game.
A look at the full All-Star rosters:
First base: Yandy Diaz, Rays
Second base: Marcus Semien, Rangers
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers
Third base: Josh Jung, Rangers
Catcher: Jonah Heim, Rangers
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Outfield: Randy Arozarena, Rays
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
AL reserve infielders
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays: Leads AL with 113 hits and 32 multi-hit games and is second in total bases (181).
Jose Ramírez, Guardians: Still a hitting machine, with a .366 OBP and .884 OPS.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays: Just 12 home runs, putting him on pace for a career low; his 52 RBI rank 11th in the AL.
Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays: Eighteen stolen bases and a .282 average gives him throwback value.
AL catchers
Adley Rutschman, Orioles: His 52 walks rank second in the AL and his .374 OBP ranks sixth.
Salvador Perez, Royals: Leads AL catchers with 15 homers, though accompanied by a .290 OBP.
AL outfielders
Luis Robert Jr., White Sox: Already doubled his career high with 24 home runs and leads AL outfielders in WAR (3.7).
Austin Hays, Orioles: Ranks third in the AL in batting average (.312) and has 27 multi-hit games.
Adolis Garcia, Rangers: Second among AL outfielders in home runs (20) and OPS (.830).
Brent Rooker, Athletics: One of the few bright spots in a grim season in Oakland, Rooker has 13 home runs and a 128 adjusted OPS.
Yordan Alvarez, Astros: He will miss the game with an oblique strain, but before that ripped 17 home runs with a .978 OPS.
AL starting pitchers
LH Shane McClanahan, Rays: Leads majors with 11 wins, paired with 2.53 ERA and .211 opponents’ batting average, but a back injury will prevent him from pitching in the game.
RH Gerrit Cole, Yankees: A 1.14 WHIP, 118 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings and 13 of 17 starts with two or fewer runs given up.
RH Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays: Leads AL in strikeouts (146) and has 10 starts of at least six innings pitched with two or fewer runs given up.
LH Framber Valdez, Astros: Tops in the AL in ERA (2.49), with a 1.05 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 105 innings.
RH Nate Eovaldi, Rangers: Excellence (0.99 WHIP) and durability (AL-best 112 1/3 innings pitched) result in second All-Star appearance.
RH Sonny Gray, Twins: Ranks second in the AL in ERA (2.50) and has given up the fewest home runs (3) of any starter.
RH Michael Lorenzen, Tigers: A first-time electee and the lone Tiger has a 1.17 WHIP.
RH Luis Castillo, Mariners: The three-time All-Star will be the lone Mariners representative in Seattle.
AL relief pitchers
RH Félix Bautista, Orioles: There’s another Mountain coming to Seattle to join Rainier. Bautista has struck out 79 in 38 2/3 innings and saved 22 games.
RH Yennier Canó, Orioles: Began the season with 32 consecutive hitless at-bats, and 20 consecutive games without a walk; he’s maintained a 0.84 WHIP.
RH Kenley Jansen, Red Sox: In a season he eclipsed 400 saves, Jansen has saved 17 for the Red Sox and earns his first appearance for the AL squad after three with the Dodgers.
RH Emmanuel Clase, Guardians: A second consecutive All-Star nod as Clase is tied for the major league lead with 24 saves.
ALL-STAR STARTERS: Fans elect seven first-timers — plus Shohei Ohtani
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Second base: Luis Arráez, Marlins
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Braves
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Catcher: Sean Murphy, Braves
Outfield: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Outfield: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
NL infielders
Matt Olson, Braves: His 28 home runs trail just Shohei Ohtani in all of baseball and his 68 RBI lead it.
Ozzie Albies, Braves: Leads all second basemen with 20 homers and 59 RBI and is second in extra-base hits.
Austin Riley, Braves: Shall we stay in Atlanta? Riley’s 88 hits and 57 runs scored are second among third basemen.
Dansby Swanson, Cubs: Leads all NL shortstops in WAR in first season in Chicago.
Pete Alonso, Mets: The lone Mets selection – and who could’ve thought that in March? – has hit 24 home runs with an .817 OPS.
NL catchers
Will Smith, Dodgers: Leads all catchers in OPS (.891) and ranks third in the NL with 12 homers among catchers.
Elias Diaz, Rockies: Colorado’s only representative has been its biggest bright spot, with a 1.8 WAR.
NL outfielders
Nick Castellanos, Phillies: Carrying the Phillies at times, Castellanos is third in the NL with a .316 average and has 12 homers and an .874 OPS.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Diamondbacks: Arizona was the big winner a deal sending Gurriel to the desert, as he’s hit 13 home runs and has a 118 adjusted OPS.
Juan Soto, Padres: He’s overcome a slow start, which is more that can be said for his club, as Soto is second in the NL with a .424 OBP and fifth with a .926 OPS.
Jorge Soler, Marlins: The DH and 2021 World Series MVP is finally an All-Star at 31, thanks to 22 homers and a 134 adjusted OPS.
NL starting pitchers
RH Marcus Stroman, Cubs: Pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 14 of 18 starts.
RH Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks: His 3.3 fWAR ranks second in the majors behind Gausman; 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA in nine starts following an Arizona loss.
RH Mitch Keller, Pirates: Won nine games and struck out 118 in 105 innings.
LH Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: His 2.55 ERA ranks sixth in the NL.
RH Bryce Elder, Braves: A modern rarity with a fastball that only touches the low 90s – yet he’s second in the NL with a 2.44 ERA.
RH Spencer Strider, Braves: Elder’s opposite number on his staff, Strider punches out batters with urgency – an NL-leading 155 in 98 1/3 innings, 37 more than any NL pitcher.
LH Justin Steele, Cubs: NL leader in ERA (2.43) and WHIP (1.03)
RH Josiah Gray, Nationals: The lone Nationals rep has tossed 95 innings with a 1.38 WHIP.
NL relievers
RH Alexis Diaz, Reds: Converted 23 of 24 save opportunities.
RH Camilo Doval, Giants: NL-leading 24 saves with 53 strikeouts in 38 innings
LH Josh Hader, Padres: The fifth All-Star nod but first in San Diego, where his 0.94 WHIP is as stingy as ever.
RH Devin Williams, Brewers: Hader’s Milwaukee replacement earns his second All-Star nod but first as a closer, with 17 saves and a 0.98 WHIP.
