Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, Major League Baseball presents its annual All-Star Game as the National League takes on the host American League at Target Field in Minnesota with home field advantage for the World Series up for grabs.
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As the MLB season pauses to honor the great players of the 2014 season, Sports World News will take a position-by-position view of the NL and AL starters and evaluate which league has the edge.
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Starting Pitching: NL Cardinals' Adam Wainwright (12-4, 1.83 ERA) vs. AL Mariners' Felix Hernandez (11-2, 2.12 ERA):
Both of these pitchers are deserving of starting honors as Wainwright has had a sensational year for the Cardinals while Hernandez is lighting things up for the Mariners. Wainwright is tied for the NL lead with his 12 wins and his ERA ranks first in the majors while his WHIP places him in third. Hernandez leads the AL in ERA and WHIP (0.90) while his 154 strikeouts against tough AL lineups rank second in the league.
Edge: Even
Catcher: NL Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy (.315, 9 HR and 44 RBI) vs. AL Royals' Salvador Perez (.283, 11 HR and 36 RBI)
Lucroy didn't win the fan vote to start, but after Yadier Molina went down with a thumb injury, the Brewers catcher was thrust into the starting position, and deservedly so. Lucroy's average ranks fifth in the NL while Perez leads all AL catchers in slugging percentage (.437) and OPS (.765) while backstopping the Royals. On the defensive side, Lucroy has caught 18 of 51 would-be base stealers while Perez has thrown out 15 of 28 base stealers.
Edge: National League
First Base: NL Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt (.308, 16 HR and 61 RBI) vs. AL Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (.306, 14 HR and 75 RBI):
Goldschmidt's 61 RBI rank second in the NL while he also ranks first in the league in doubles (36), second in total bases (196) and third in on-base percentage (.400), slugging percentage (.549) and OPS (.949). Cabrera, the reigning American League MVP, leads the MLB with his 75 RBI and leads the AL with 34 doubles while ranking third with 117 hits.
Edge: Even
Second Base: NL Phillies' Chase Utley (.293, 8 HR and 46 RBI) vs. AL Mariners' Robinson Cano (.334, 7 HR and 57 RBI):
Utley started off the season red-hot and leads all NL second baseman in RBI and with a .349 on-base percentage while Cano's homer totals have gone down in his move from New York to Seattle, but his average ranks third in the AL and he is second in the league in hits (118) and third in on-base percentage (.393).
Edge: American League
Shortstop: NL Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki (.345, 21 HR and 52 RBI) vs. AL Yankees' Derek Jeter (.272, 2 HR and 25 RBI):
Tulowitzki enters the All-Star Game as an MVP candidate while Jeter will make his final All-Star Game appearance of his legendary career. While Jeter's numbers may not make him the best option for starting shortstop, it will be a fitting end for the Yankees captain. Tulowitzki leads the entire MLB in batting average, runs (71), on-base percentage (.435) and OPS (1.048). Jeter is hitting .272/.324/.322 this season and the night will be mostly centered around his retirement.
Edge: National League,
Third Base: NL Brewers' Aramis Ramirez (.288, 11 HR and 43 RBI) vs. AL Athletics' Josh Donaldson (.238, 20 HR and 65 RBI:
Ramirez edged out Cincinnati's Todd Frazier for the start, and is hitting .288/.336/.459 this season thus far while Donaldson's 61 runs rank fifth in the AL and he leads all AL third baseman in homers and RBI thus far this season despite having a low batting average.
Edge: American League
Left Field: NL Brewers' Carlos Gomez (.304, 14 HR and 48 RBI) vs. AL Angels' Mike Trout (.310, 22 HR and 73 RBI):
Gomez leads the Brewers with a .880 OPS and despite some on the field controversy, he is having a great season in Milwaukee. Trout continues to be one of the best all-around players and leads the MLB with 209 total bases. The MVP candidate also leads the AL with a 1.005 OPS, is second in on-base percentage (.400) and slugging percentage (.606) while his 73 RBI ranks third and his 22 homers are fourth.
Edge: American League
Center Field: NL Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (.324, 17 HR and 61 RBI) vs. AL Orioles' Adam Jones (.301, 16 HR and 54 RBI):
McCutchen leads the NL with 115 hits, 204 total bases and 58 walks. He also ranks second in on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.575) and OPS (.995) while he's second in RBI and third in batting average. Jones is fourth in the AL with 116 hits and 187 total bases
Edge: National League
Right Field: NL Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (.309, 12 HR and 52 RBI) vs. Blue Jays' Jose Bautista (.292, 17 HR and 54 RBI):
Puig is fifth in the NL with a .393 on-base percentage and .915 OPS and leads the Dodgers with a .522 slugging percentage and 53 runs. Bautista ranks first in the AL with a .409 on-base percentage and second with 62 walks while leading the Blue Jays with 59 runs. Bautista paces all AL right fielders with a .502 slugging percentage and a .910 OPS.
Edge: Even
Designated Hitter: NL Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (.295, 21 HR and 63 RBI) vs. AL Orioles' Nelson Cruz (.287, 28 HR, 74 RBI):
Stanton's 61 homers are tied for the NL lead while he's in sole possession of first with his 63 RBI. Stanton is third with 190 total bases and is fourth in the NL in on-base percentage (.395), slugging percentage (.538) and OPS (.933). Cruz's 28 long balls and 74 RBI rank second in the AL while he also ranks second in total bases (203) and fifth in slugging (.570) and OPS (.923).
Edge: Even
Major League Baseball's stars are on full display tonight when the National League and American League take the diamond at Target Field in Minnesota for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.
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