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All-Star Game starting lineups unveiled: Manny Machado bats third for AL

The All-Star Game is cool because Manny Machado gets to bat behind Mike Trout and ahead of David Ortiz.

By Mark Brown

We’re all supposed to be too cool to really care about the All-Star Game, so getting excited about Manny Machado batting third for the American League team is a no go. I tell you what, if you don’t tell on me, I won’t tell on you.

Machado being deemed worthy of being #3 in the order in a lineup full of some of the greatest players in the league plus two Kansas City Royals is exciting.

In years like this where there’s some reason to be optimistic about the Orioles postseason chances, the All-Star Game takes on the extra meaning that the O’s might actually get to benefit from the American League winning the game.

Good thing they have five All-Stars to potentially give the team an extra home game in late October... you know, if the Orioles actually get to still be playing baseball at that time, which has never happened in my lifetime. But they’re in first place right now and it’s fun to dream, right?

Anyway, here is the starting lineup for the American League:

  1. Jose Altuve - 2B
  2. Mike Trout - CF
  3. Manny Machado - 3B
  4. The Vandal, David Ortiz - DH
  5. Xander Bogaerts - SS
  6. Eric Hosmer - 1B
  7. Mookie Betts - RF
  8. Salvador Perez - C
  9. Jackie Bradley Jr. - LF

With Chris Sale as the starting pitcher. Of course, it doesn’t really matter who’s in the starting lineup because eventually they will take a seat and other players will get a chance to play, but still: What a lineup! And Machado is batting in front of Ortiz. I figure he will see a few strikes.

I’d figure Wieters will come on for a few innings and at least one at-bat once Perez is subbed out of the game. Trumbo should get in there eventually too. It’d be a surprise if both Brad Brach and Zach Britton get to pitch. It’ll still be cool they’re both on the team regardless.

The National League sets up like so:

  1. Ben Zobrist - 2B
  2. Bryce Harper - RF
  3. Kris Bryant - 3B
  4. Wil Myers - DH
  5. Buster Posey - C
  6. Anthony Rizzo - 1B
  7. Marcell Ozuna - CF
  8. Carlos Gonzalez - LF
  9. Addison Russell - SS

With Johnny Cueto as the starting pitcher. There are four Cubs in that starting lineup. Crazy. The Cubs were at one time the team with the most dominant record in all of baseball but they have since slipped, a lot, with their 54 wins now being 4th-most in MLB.

For a refresher on the full rosters for both teams, check out here.

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