NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL STAR PREDICTIONS

The first half of the 2023 season has been full of excitement and attendance is soaring. Seattle gets to showcase the Pacific Northwest this year as they host the 2023 Midsummer Classic. The Braves have been on the warpath since Opening Day. The Marlins have quietly maneuvered into 2nd place in the NL East. The Phillies are playing better and the Mets are a dumpster fire. The NL Central has been all over the place. The Pirates had a great April, the Reds youth movement has launched them into 1st place and the Cubs are the only team in the division with a positive run differential. The Brewers are treading water and the Cardinals are in the cellar. The NL West is led by the Arizona Diamondbacks, yes the Diamondbacks. I can’t tell what the biggest NL story is, the terrible Mets, Cardinals and Padres or the exciting Reds and Diamondbacks. The All Star voting scheme is always a popularity contest and it rarely depicts who should actually be starting in the game, much less on the roster. This collection of National League players is based on their full 2023 merit and production. This squad does not include the Polar Bear Pete Alonso, because outside of his great home run total, his overall production is well behind others. I have created my NL All Star Team based on the roster rules of 32 players. The roster structure is 20 position players and 12 pitchers, with a minimum of 4 relief pitchers. There is also a requirement to have at least 2 players from each fielding position on the squad. I also took into account that at least 1 player from each team is included.

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS:

• Stats as of June 26th

CATCHER: SEAN MURPHY. ATLANTA BRAVES

• 60 Hits, 33 Runs, .290 Batting Average, 14 Doubles, 12 Home Runs, 43 RBI, 26 Walks, .388 OBP, .531 SLG and .919 OPS

FIRST BASEMAN: FREDDIE FREEMAN. LA DODGERS

• 97 Hits, 62 Runs, .317 Batting Average, 27 Doubles, 14 Home Runs, 48 RBI, .397 OBP, .549 SLG, and .946 OPS

SECOND BASEMAN: LUIS ARRAEZ. MIAMI MARLINS

• 111 Hits, 34 Runs, .399 Batting Average, 15 Doubles, 3 Home Runs, 37 RBI, .451 OBP, .493 SLG, and .786 OPS

SHORTSTOP: FRANCISCO LINDOR. NEW YORK METS

• 65 Hits, 45 Runs, .223 Batting Average, 19 Doubles, 15 Home Runs, 53 RBI, .305 OBP, .442 SLG, and .747 OPS.
• Leads all NL Shortstops in Runs, Doubles, Home Runs and RBI

THIRD BASEMAN: NOLAN ARENADO. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

• 78 Hits, 33 Runs, .268 Batting Average, 10 Doubles, 2 Triples, 15 Home Runs, 50 RBI, .315 OBP, .471 SLG, and .786 OPS

OUTFIELDER: RONALD ACUNA JR. ATLANTA BRAVES

• 104 Hits, 68 Runs, .328 Batting Average, 23 Doubles, 17 Home Runs, 49 RBI, 35 Stolen Bases, .403 OBP, .568 SLG, and .971 OPS
• Top All Star Vote Getter in the NL and guaranteed starter.

OUTFIELDER: MOOKIE BETTS. LA DODGERS

• 75 Hits, 57 Runs, .258 Batting Average, 15 Doubles, 1 Triple, 19 Home Runs, 47 RBI, 41 Walks, 6 Stolen Bases, .354 OBP, .512 SLG, and .866 OPS

OUTFIELDER: CORBIN CARROLL. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

• 80 Hits, 59 Runs, .290 Batting Average, 20 Doubles, 3 Triples, 16 Home Runs, 41 RBI, 23 Stolen Bases, .369 OBP, .558 SLG, and .927 OPS

DESIGNATED HITTER: CHRISTIAN WALKER. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

• 80 Hits, 42 Runs, .282 Batting Average, 23 Doubles, 15 Home Runs, 53 RBI, .346 OBP, .521 SLG, and .867 OPS

BENCH SPOTS:

CATCHER: WILL SMITH. LA DODGERS

• 12 Home Runs and .291 Batting Average

OUTFIELDER: NICK CASTELLANOS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

• 92 Hits, .313 Batting Average and 23 Doubles

DH / OUTFIELDER: JORGE SOLAR. MIAMI MARLINS

• 41 Runs, 12 Doubles, 21 Home Runs, 45 RBI and 37 Walks

THIRD BASEMAN: RYAN McMAHON. COLORADO ROCKIES

• 74 Hits, 20 Doubles, 3 Triples, 12 Home Runs, 41 RBI, and 35 Walks

OUTFIELDER: LANE THOMAS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

• 90 Hits, 53 Runs, .297 Batting Average, 20 Doubles, 2 Triples, 14 Home Runs and 41 RBI

OUTFIELDER: FERNANDO TATIS JR. SAN DIEGO PADRES

• 42 Runs, .286 Batting Average, 17 Doubles, 15 Home Runs, and 14 Stolen Bases

THIRD BASEMAN: AUSTIN RILEY. ATLANTA BRAVES

• 81 Hits, 51 Runs, 14 Doubles, 13 Home Runs and 38 RBI

FIRST BASEMAN: MATT OLSEN. ATLANTA BRAVES

• 70 Hits, 58 Runs, 25 Home Runs, 60 RBI and 50 Walks

SECOND BASEMAN: KETEL MARTE. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

• 83 Hits, 58 Runs, .294 Batting Average, 13 Doubles, 4 Triples, and 14 Home Runs

SHORTSTOP: DANSBY SWANSON. CHICAGO CUBS

• 77 Hits, 13 Doubles, 2 Triples, 8 Home Runs, 38 Walks and a WAR of 3.0, which leads all NL Shortstops

SHORTSTOP: TREA TURNER. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

• 78 Hits, 44 Runs, 16 Doubles, 2 Triples, 8 Home Runs and 15 Stolen Bases

STARTING PITCHERS:

SP: MARCUS STROMAN. CHICAGO CUBS

• NL All Star Starting Pitcher

SP: ZAC GALLEN. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

SP: MITCH KELLER. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

SP: LOGAN WEBB. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

SP: SPENCER STRIDER. ATLANTA BRAVES

SP: BRYCE ELDER. ATLANTA BRAVES

SP: CLAYTON KERSHAW. LA DODGERS

SP: MERRILL KELLY. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

RELIEF PITCHERS:

RP: DEVIN WILLIAMS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

RP: ALEXIS DÍAZ. CINCINNATI REDS

RP: DAVID BEDNAR. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

RP: CAMILO DOVAL. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

If the young Reds, highlighted by De La Cruz, had a stronger April and May, there would be stronger representation. The second half is going to be an exciting sprint to the playoffs. Attendance is up and I can predict that we’ll see that resurgence continue. As weird as it is, I really enjoy seeing the Cardinals and Mets so far out of contention and I hope that continues.