NL enters All-Star Game as rare favorite
After two decades of Midsummer Classic beatings, is the National League finally ready to return the favor tonight?
Handicappers believe so. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives Terry Collins’ NL squad odds of -107 to claim the 87th MLB All-Star Game. Conversely, Ned Yost’s American League troops stride into Petco Park as -103 underdogs. The over/under run total sits at 7.5.
The junior circuit holds a 15-4-1 record in the past 20 such exhibitions. Last July’s result simply fell right in line, as Mike Trout’s leadoff homer catapulted his side to a 6-3 victory (and home-field in the World Series, from which Yost’s Royals ultimately benefitted). The Los Angeles superstar then scored another run in the fifth to win his second straight MVP award.
Some fans enter the evening’s festivities lamenting the fact that usual suspects Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner are unavailable to attack Trout’s group. Instead, San Francisco’s Johnny Cueto hopes to establish the tone for the senior circuit. The 13-1 righty will contend with Jose Altuve, Trout and Manny Machado right off the bat. Cueto previously made the ASG roster as a Red in 2014.
By now, AL starter Chris Sale is quite familiar with the stage in question. The league leader in complete games (three) and innings pitched (125), Sale’s here for the fifth consecutive time. Beginning at 8 p.m. ET, he’ll try to retire Ben Zobrist, Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant in short order.
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A whopping 79 players were named to this season’s tilt, but Yost has already tipped his hand as to the four who shall follow Sale to the hill: Corey Kluber, Cole Hamels, Aaron Sanchez and Jose Quintana. Collins’ relief options range from (potential) long men Max Scherzer, Jose Fernandez and Jon Lester to closers Jeurys Familia and Mark Melancon. On the lineup end of things, the 67-year-old skipper pledges to salute hometown favorite Wil Myers by putting him in the cleanup spot for San Diego’s first All-Star gala since 1992.
Myers functions as the designated hitter, too, serving as the counterpunch to David Ortiz’s “home” team. Despite the AL’s bonus of snagging the final round of at-bats, though, that staff inspires decidedly less fear in 2016. Without the likes of David Price and Felix Hernandez to worry about, the visiting club should generate quality offense for an extended run.
TUESDAY MLB FREE PICK: NATIONAL LEAGUE -1.5
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