The Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, baseball’s midsummer classic, is just around the corner. However, the event has lost some of its luster as several of the league’s biggest stars have opted out.
This year’s MLB All-Star Game is set for Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. (EST) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez will take the mound for the National League, while Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays will start for the American League.
With the U.S. celebrating its 250th anniversary of independence, expectations are high for a spectacular All-Star showcase.
In the ongoing rivalry between the National League (NL) and American League (AL) All-Stars, the AL holds a slight edge with a 48-45-2 record.
Despite the historic nature of this year’s event, the absence of several marquee players has dampened some of the excitement.
Shohei Ohtani, who led all players in fan voting, has withdrawn from the All-Star Game due to a knee injury.
After skipping his scheduled start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 11 due to left knee discomfort, Ohtani has continued to hit but will sit out the All-Star Game as a precautionary measure.
On Monday, the final day of the first half, he underwent a procedure to drain fluid from his knee.
Ohtani’s teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last year’s World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP), will also miss the All-Star Game due to his pitching schedule.
Yamamoto struggled in his July 12 start against Arizona, giving up six runs in six innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to give Yamamoto some rest, considering his heavy workload since last season.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge will also be absent from the Midsummer Classic due to a rib microfracture injury, while Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has chosen to rest his ailing back.
Jacob Misner of the Milwaukee Brewers, known for his blistering 100+ mph fastballs, has also decided to skip the All-Star Game to recuperate.
He’s already logged 111 innings over 18 starts this season.
Veteran hurler Zack Wheeler of the host Philadelphia Phillies declined his All-Star invitation, citing wounded pride.
Despite posting All-Star caliber numbers, Wheeler was initially left off the NL pitching roster announced on July 5 and wasn’t selected as an injury replacement. When the MLB office later extended an invitation, a disgruntled Wheeler turned it down.
The night before the All-Star Game, fans can look forward to the Home Run Derby on Tuesday at the same venue.
Eight sluggers will compete for long-ball supremacy, including Japanese sensation Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper of the Phillies, Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays), Ben Rice (New York Yankees), Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals), Wilson Contreras (Boston Red Sox), and Jack Caglianone (Kansas City Royals).