It’s time for the main event. The 88th Midsummer Classic gets underway tonight at Marlins Park in Miami. While it’s going to be difficult to top the excitement of last night’s Home Run Derby, the game itself figures to be fun.
This year, the Yankees brought the cavalry to the All-Star Game. Aaron Judge leads the team’s contingent, considering he topped the voting in the American League. He’s not just in the starting lineup, either. He’s batting third.
AL manager Brad Mills said that he batted Aaron Judge third to ensure that the game's best story will get an at-bat in the first inning.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) July 10, 2017
That’s some high praise for the Yankees right fielder. What’s more impressive, however, is that this tweet came before his Home Run Derby Victory. That line about Judge being the best story in baseball is no exaggeration today.
Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances join Judge in tonight’s game. Starlin Castro also made the squad, but he’s sidelined while he rehabs a wrist injury. The good news here is that all of the participating Yankees figure to make an appearance.
Both managers agree the All-Star Game is going to be a participation-trophy event. Said they want to get almost all the players in the game.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 10, 2017
It’s always a bummer to not see your favorite players in the game. It should be fun to see Sanchez get an at-bat and Severino pitch an inning.
While the All-Star Game doesn’t decide home-field advantage for the World Series anymore, there are plenty of dream matchups to make it interesting. I’m especially looking forward to Judge batting against Max Scherzer in the first inning. Baseball’s best power hitter against the game’s best pitcher? That will play just fine.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 PM, with the pregame show beginning at 7:30 PM. It will be broadcast nationally on Fox. Use this as your open thread for the night, and let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comment section!
Your AL and NL starting lineups for the #ASG. pic.twitter.com/7Wh1mCsh8S
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2017