What normally serves as a midseason distraction has a greater meaning: The All-Star Game. In 2021, bringing together the best baseball players at Coors Field in Colorado will not only be an entertainment event, but a symbol of revival. After the coronavirus took away so much life and freedom, an event comes to downtown Denver that exemplifies the official reopening of the Major League Baseball.
Like much of what has happened in the past year and a half, the All-Star Game suffered a last-minute alteration. Following a change in planning, Coors Field is set to host the Midseason Classic for the first time since 1998.
And if Coors is what we know about Coors, then it will be a very exciting event. (The 1998 All-Star Game was won by the American League 13-8, the largest score in the event’s history.)
We are already guaranteed to witness history, with Shohei Ohtani becoming the first player in history to hit and pitch in the event that had its beginnings in 1933.
But with so much talent on the ground – from talented youngsters like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Venezuela’s Ronald Acuña Jr., to established veterans like Mookie Betts and Buster Posey – anything can happen.
As the stars prepare to take the stage, here we answer some of your questions about the 91st All-Star Game.
How can I watch the game?
National broadcast in the US on FOX will begin at 7:30 pm ET.
The game will also be broadcast in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS. FOX Deportes will broadcast the game in Spanish in the US, while ESPN Deportes will provide audio coverage.
Who will be the starting pitchers?
They will be announced by American League (and Rays) manager Kevin Cash and National League (and Dodgers) manager Dave Roberts on Monday.
What will the lineups be?
The specific order will also be announced by each of the managers on Monday. But here are the players chosen by the fans.
* denotes a player inactive due to injury
+ He chose not to participate in the All-Star Game
C: Salvador Pérez (KC)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Marcus Semien (TOR)
3B: Rafael Devers (BOS)
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA) *
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Teóscar Hernández (TOR)
BD: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
C: Buster Posey (SF)
1B: Freddie Freeman (ATL)
2B: Adam Frazier (PIT)
3B: Nolan Arenado (SL)
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Nick Castellanos (CIN)
OF: Jesse Winker (CIN)
Who will be available from the bank?
C: Mike Zunino (TB)
2B: José Altuve (HOU) +
SS: Bo Bichette (TOR)
SS: Carlos Correa (HOU) +
1B: Matt Olson (OAK)
3B: José Ramírez (CLE)
1B: Jared Walsh (LAA)
OF: Michael Brantley (HOU)
OF: Joey Gallo (TEX)
OF: Adolis García (TEX)
OF: Cedric Mullins (BAL)
BD: JD Martínez (BOS)
BD: Nelson Cruz (MIN)
C: JT Realmuto (PHI)
2B: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
3B: Kris Bryant (CHC)
SS: Brandon Crawford (SF)
2B: Jake Cronenworth (SD)
3B: Eduardo Escobar (ARI)
1B: Max Muncy (LAD)
SS: Trea Turner (WSH)
OF: Mookie Betts (LA)
OF: Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
OF: Juan Soto (WSH)
OF: Chris Taylor (LA)
Who will be available to launch?
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NY)
RHP: Nathan Eovaldi (BOS)
RHP: Kyle Gibson (TEX)
LZ: Yusei Kikuchi (SEA)
RHP: Lance Lynn (CWS)
LZ: Carlos Rodón (CWS)
RHP: Matt Barnes (BOS)
LZ: Aroldis Chapman (NY)
RHP: Liam Hendriks (CWS)
RHP: Ryan Pressly (HOU)
LZ: Gregory Soto (DET)
RHP: Corbin Burnes (MIL)
RHP: Yu Darvish (SD)
LD: Jacob deGrom (NYM) +
RHP: Kevin Gausman (SF)
RHP: Germán Márquez (COL)
LZ: Trevor Rogers (MIA)
LD: Zack Wheeler (PHI)
RHP: Brandon Woodruff (MIL)
LZ: Josh Hader (MIL)
RHP: Craig Kimbrel (CHC)
RHP: Mark Melancon (SD)
RHP: Alex Reyes (SL)
Does the All-Star Game result still decide World Series home advantage?
No. As part of the collective bargaining agreement before the 2017 season, that detail was removed. The game is again a true display and home advantage in the Fall Classic is now given to the team with the best record in the regular season.
Any rule changes for 2021?
No. But just like in the regular season, if the game goes into extra innings, the 10th inning – and any subsequent innings – will start with a runner at second base for each team.
Why did the All-Star Game move to another city?
Commissioner Rob Manfred made the decision to move the game out of the city of Atlanta after the passage of SB 202, a Georgia law that was criticized for restricting access to the voting process for state residents. After consulting with teams, active and retired players, the MLB Players Association and The Players Alliance, among others, Manfred said the decision was “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport.”
How many times has the All-Star Game been held in Denver?
This will be the second time. Coors Field first hosted the All-Star Game in 1998.
How can fans get involved in the game?
Fans will once again have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game Award, presented by Chevrolet. During the game, fans will be able to vote exclusively on LasMayores.com and the pages of the 30 teams with the MVP Vote of the All-Star Game of 2021. The collective opinion of the fans will represent 20% of the official vote to determine who will win the Arch Ward Trophy.
Which league has won the All-Star Game the most times?
The American has a slight advantage: 45 wins and 43 losses, plus two draws. The total runs in those 90 games is 373 for the American and 370 for the National, so the Midseason Classic has been very even overall.
In recent years, however, the dominance has been primarily by the Young Circuit, which has lost only six times since 1988, three times since 1997 and is undefeated since 2013.
What other fun facts should we know?
• This is the third All-Star Game in a row with at least 30 players making their debut in this competition. That number has been reached in seven of the last eight editions of the event and in nine of the last 11.
• The rosters have six players 23 and younger: Guerrero, Tatis and Soto are 22, and Acuña, Bichette and Rogers are 23.
• Although out with a calf injury, Trout has the longest active string of All-Star appearances, with eight calls in a row. His nine total picks are the most for any player on this year’s rosters, followed by Kimbrel (eight), Altuve (seven), Chapman (seven), Cruz (seven), Pérez (seven) and Posey (seven). .
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