AL All-Stars
Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game is in just over a month. Below is who should start for the American League.
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees. Despite hitting below the Mendoza Line, Sanchez is providing tremendous offensive value for the Yankees from the catcher’s position. His power surge in conjunction with the lack of alternative options behind the plate makes Sanchez a no-brainer.
First Base: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox. Abreu is leading the big leagues in doubles and is hitting .290 with double-digit home runs. That should be enough for the 31-year old Cuban to make his second career All-Star appearance.
Second Base: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros. He’s miniature, but he surely doesn’t play like it. The 2017 AL MVP is at it again this season as he’s batting .342 with a Major League leading 93 hits.
Shortstop: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles. This was a close call between Machado and Francisco Lindor. Despite the Orioles dreadful start to the 2018 season I had to give the nod to Machado. He is hitting .312 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs while playing superb defense.
Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians. Ramirez is tearing the cover off of the ball. Through 61 games he is hitting .290 with 19 home runs and 43 RBIs. Not only is he an All-Star, but Ramirez should be among the short list of candidates for AL MVP.
Outfield: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox; Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels; Aaron Judge New York Yankees. I didn’t think twice about any one of these three. Betts leads baseball in batting average, runs, and has smacked 17 homers; Trout is indisputably the best player in baseball; Judge is the best player on the best team in baseball and has detonated 18 home runs.
Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros. This dude is the best pitcher in baseball. Period. He lost that distinction for a period to Clayton Kershaw, but Verlander has reclaimed his crown atop the pitching hierarchy with his utter dominance this season. The flame-throwing righty is 8-2 with a tantalizing 1.45 ERA.
DH: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox. The slugger is living up to the mammoth contract he signed this offseason. Martinez leads the majors in homers and has helped guide the Red Sox to the second best record in baseball.
