All-Star starters announced; Tigers dominate
Three Detroit starters will suit up for first pitch in Atlanta on July 15
If you don’t like good news for rival AL Central teams, proceed with caution.
The Detroit Tigers led the way among American League teams, placing three starters on the All-Star team in voting done by baseball fans worldwide. Outfielders Riley Greene and Javy Báez, along with second baseman Gleyber Torres, all were selected to start in the game.
The Tigger trio will be joined by top vote-getter Aaron Judge of the Yankees in the outfield and fellow slugger and record-breaking backstop Cal Raleigh of the Mariners. The fans also sent rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson of the A’s to Atlanta as a starter.
Over the the National League, Shohei Ohtani topped the NL ballot, and will be joined by two Dodgers teammates in the starting lineup: first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith.
Detroit and L.A. led the majors with three starters, but the Cubs joined the Tigers by placing two starters in the outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker. Atlanta sees a hometown player in the lineup, as Ronald Acuña Jr. will join those Cubbies in the NL outfield.
Seven different AL clubs placed players among the starting nine batters, with six NL teams placing starters.
The remaining rosters — including the identity of the sole White Sox representative — will be revealed July 6 on ESPN at 4 p.m. CT.