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The MLB All-Star Game is upon us and it should bring a lot of excitement! It's time to continue our MLB odds series with an AL-NL prediction and pick.
The American League roster is stacked with talent and wins this game just about every year. The AL hasn't lost since 2012 when the NL won 8-0. Since then, it's been a dominance displayed by the AL that forces the NL to struggle. There are a lot of injuries and replacements in this game, however, that doesn't mean you won't see your favorite All-Star having fun in the dugout.
The best players in the world are all sharing the field together and it really is a sight for sore eyes. The first half of the season is behind us and it was a wild one. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are leading their respective conferences and who would have thought?
Here are the MLB All-Star Game odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
2022 MLB All-Star Game Odds: AL-NL Odds
American League: -1.5 (+172) ML: -102
National League: +1.5 (-210) ML: -116
Over: 7.5 (-104)
Under: 7.5 (-118)
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Why The AL Could Cover The Spread
Starting for the American League is the most dominant pitcher in the entire league to this point of the season. Shane McClanahan is simply nasty. The southpaw is (10-3) with a 1.71 ERA (1st) and 0.80 WHIP (1st) in 110.2 innings this year. He's second in baseball with 147 strikeouts and is the clear choice to be the starter in LA.
The rest of the starting staff is filled with some of the top pitchers in baseball. Justin Verlander, Alex Manoah, and the pair of Yankees Nestor Cortes and Gerrit Cole should follow after McClanahan.
As for the lineup, three MVP candidates will start out in order with reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani leading off. Aaron Judge will bat 2nd followed by Rafael Devers … that's tough. Vlad Guerrero Jr. will bat cleanup as Giancarlo Stanton, Byron Buxton, Tim Anderson, Andres Gimenez, and Alejandro Kirk round out the lineup.
Mike Trout and Jose Altuve will not participate as Buxton and Gimenez replace them as starters. Expect everyone to get at least an AB or playing time.
Why The NL Could Cover The Spread
Starting for the National League is none other than Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The lefty is (7-2) with a 2.13 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 71 innings this season. Now, Kershaw may not have been the favorite to start this game, but since it's in his home ballpark I think this was an obvious choice. His teammate Tony Gonsolin is actually having a better season and Marlins' ace Sandy Alcantara is also dominating in 2022. But don't worry, they will both pitch early in this game.
San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove and Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes will also see some early innings today. The NL once again is stacked with starters as pitching seems to always be the National League's backbone.
The lineup for the NL is led off by Ronald Acuna Jr., followed by Mookie Betts and Manny Machado. Manager Brian Snitker started seven straight right-handers followed by two lefties to try and attack McClanahan early. Seems like he really thought about this decision.
NL MVP favorite Paul Goldschmidt will bat cleanup, as Trea Turner, and brothers Willson and William Contreras follow. The two lefties Joc Pederson and Jeff McNeil will bat 8th and 9th. William Contreras is replacing Bryce Harper and McNeil is replacing Jazz Chisholm Jr.
How cool is it to see the Contreras brothers bat after each other in the All-Star Game?
Final AL-NL Prediction & Pick
The American League is the favorite in this game and that is the right call. The lineup has more pop and should have a field day with a majority of the pitchers being right-handed for the NL. They have won the last seven in a row and should be the pick until the NL beats them. I imagine whoever gets out to an early lead should be able to hold on.
Final AL-NL Prediction & Pick: American League -1.5 (+172)
