MLB All-Star Predictions 2026: Naming Our All-Star Teams for AL and NL

MLB

MLB All-Star Predictions 2026: Naming Our All-Star Teams for AL and NL

MLB All-Star voting is open. Fans can cast their ballots, and while public voting only determines the starting lineups, there is still plenty of room to debate the rest of the rosters.

Here is how our All-Star rosters would look if voting ended today, accounting for each team needing at least one representative in the Midsummer Classic.

American League

Catchers: Adley Rutschman, Dillon Dingler, Shea Langeliers

There is a massive gap between these three and the rest of the American League's catchers. If the rosters were a couple of spots smaller, maybe Langeliers gets left off, but there is enough room to carry three catchers with 34 players making the AL All-Star roster.

First Basemen: Munetaka Murakami, Nick Kurtz, Ben Rice

Willson Contreras, Jonathan Aranda, and Pete Alonso would be All-Stars in many other seasons, or if they played a different position. Unfortunately for that trio, there is no beating Nick Kurtz, Ben Rice, and rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami.

Kurtz is a legitimate MVP candidate and Rice has an even better wRC+ than the Athletics star. If healthy, Murakami has to be there.

Second Basemen: Chase Meidroth, Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Gleyber Torres and Travis Bazzana have not made enough plate appearances to make this team. Chase Meidroth and Jazz Chisholm Jr. lead AL second basemen in fWAR, with the latter sitting on 10 homers and 20 stolen bases at the time of writing.

Third Basemen: Miguel Vargas, Junior Caminero, Josh Jung

Much like first base and catcher, there are three strong candidates here. Junior Caminero and Miguel Vargas are having nearly identical offensive seasons. Josh Jung is having a great year too, but he would be the one cut if forced to go with only two third basemen.

Shortstops: Bobby Witt Jr., Kevin McGonigle, J.P. Crawford

J.P. Crawford probably is not needed here with the Mariners likely to get a starter on the roster, but in the event they do not, Crawford is the most deserving of Seattle's position players.

Plenty of AL shortstops are having good seasons. None have been as productive as Kevin McGonigle and Bobby Witt Jr., with the latter leading the majors in fWAR.

Outfielders: Mike Trout, Byron Buxton, Randy Arozarena, Aaron Judge, Riley Greene, Ceddanne Rafaela

The first few picked themselves. Ceddanne Rafaela was a necessary inclusion to ensure the Red Sox had representation, which left Carlos Cortes, Luke Raley, and Taylor Ward on the outside looking in.

There is a good chance Aaron Judge will not be healthy for the game itself, which likely leaves Mike Trout, Byron Buxton, and Randy Arozarena as the starters.

Designated Hitters: Yordan Alvarez, Joc Pederson

Yordan Alvarez has been the best hitter in baseball, and it is not close. Joc Pederson might only have nine homers, but a 124 wRC+ gives plenty to get excited about, along with the best shot at a Rangers position player making the team.

Starting Pitchers: Parker Messick, Cam Schlittler, Drew Rasmussen, Dylan Cease, Joe Ryan, Kevin Gausman, Logan Gilbert, Jacob deGrom

Who was unlucky to miss out? Reid Detmers, certainly. Nick Martinez, probably. José Soriano and Will Warren, maybe.

Parker Messick gives the roster some Guardians representation. Cam Schlittler, Drew Rasmussen, Dylan Cease, and Joe Ryan were complete locks. There is more debate over Logan Gilbert, Jacob deGrom, and Kevin Gausman, but deGrom's SIERA is outstanding, Gilbert has a 3.43 ERA, and Gausman is tied for fifth in fWAR.

Relief Pitchers: Aroldis Chapman, Louis Varland, Jacob Latz, Bryan Baker

Aroldis Chapman and Louis Varland have outrageous ERA numbers. Jacob Latz's metrics are almost as impressive, including a 0.600 WHIP. Nasty stuff has Bryan Baker sitting second in AL saves.

Cade Smith, Tyler Rogers, David Bednar, Grant Taylor, and Justin Sterner are all potential All-Stars if the league selects more relievers.

National League

Catchers: Hunter Goodman, Drake Baldwin

Hunter Goodman was a no-brainer as the lone Rockie. Drake Baldwin's counting stats are not as dramatic as they could have been after missing time, but he is second to Goodman in homers among NL catchers and stands well ahead of the field in wRC+.

First Basemen: Matt Olson, Jake Bauers

Freddie Freeman, Spencer Horwitz, and Alec Burleson all have strong cases and can consider themselves unlucky to miss out. Bryce Harper, on reputation at least, should be on the roster.

Matt Olson and Jake Bauers have been far and away the best hitters among the NL's first basemen, though, and that is what should really be rewarded here. There are a lot of capable candidates at this position.

Second Basemen: Brandon Lowe, Luis Arraez, Xavier Edwards, JJ Wetherholt

Yes, four second basemen. Luis Arraez is having a far better offensive season than expected and has improved defensively. Xavier Edwards sits at a 123 wRC+ with 11 stolen bases.

There should be no debate over Brandon Lowe and his 18 homers, nor should there be any over rookie sensation JJ Wetherholt. He is exactly the talent fans want to see in this showpiece.

Brice Turang is probably the most controversial exclusion across both rosters.

Third Basemen: Max Muncy, Matt Chapman

Once a position of great depth, third base is now pretty much Max Muncy and Curtis Mead without much else. Matt Chapman's bat has only gotten going recently, but his WAR numbers remain solid thanks to his glove.

Mead gets left off in favor of Chapman here. San Francisco's struggles mean there are not many All-Star candidates in orange and black, and third base seemed like the best place to find room for a Giant.

Shortstops: Otto Lopez, CJ Abrams

There is no Francisco Lindor, Konnor Griffin is not quite at this level yet, and Willy Adames and Geraldo Perdomo have underperformed.

That leaves it down to Otto Lopez, CJ Abrams, and Elly De La Cruz. Lopez leads the fWAR charts and holds the highest batting average in the NL. Abrams' 142 wRC+ is 11 points higher than De La Cruz's, and he is heading toward a 30-20 season at minimum.

Cincinnati's collapse, combined with the presence of another strong option at the position, makes De La Cruz a difficult cut.

Outfielders: Juan Soto, James Wood, Jackson Chourio, Jordan Walker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Corbin Carroll, Bryan Reynolds

Juan Soto, James Wood, and Jordan Walker should be the three starters, with Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong following closely behind. Jackson Chourio's production, even in a small sample, deserves an All-Star nod, while Bryan Reynolds is tied with Soto in fWAR.

Michael Harris II, Andy Pages, Oneil Cruz, and Jung Hoo Lee were the hardest names to leave out. Lee's case would be stronger if there were a better candidate to replace Chapman at third base.

Designated Hitters: Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani

This one is fairly straightforward. Shohei Ohtani was not his best at the plate in March and April, but he has been scorching hot since, and he warrants an All-Star spot as both a DH and a pitcher.

Kyle Schwarber already has 25 homers. There is really no debate here.

Starting Pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski, Chris Sale, Cristopher Sánchez, Paul Skenes, Chase Burns, Eduardo Rodríguez, Braxton Ashcraft, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Max Meyer

Chase Burns is the Reds' representative. Jacob Misiorowski, Chris Sale, Cristopher Sánchez, Paul Skenes, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are pitching too well to leave off the roster.

Only the results so far can be judged. So even though Eduardo Rodríguez is clearly going to regress, his 2.45 ERA earns him a spot. Braxton Ashcraft is sixth in xERA and tied for fourth in fWAR. Max Meyer has a better ERA than Skenes and is tied with Yamamoto in fWAR.

Relief Pitchers: Raisel Iglesias, Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, Trevor Megill

It is all about the big arms with the four relievers on the NL All-Star roster. Mason Miller, Raisel Iglesias, and Jhoan Duran all have ERA marks below 2.00. Trevor Megill has a 1.37 FIP, bettered only by Duran and Miller.

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