Baseball’s best have landed in Philadelphia, and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is ready to roll at 8 p.m.
The night already delivered one jolt before the first pitch. Jordan Walker beat hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber on his final swings to win the Home Run Derby in front of the Philly crowd, and the MLB Draft finished up over the weekend. Now the focus shifts to the Midsummer Classic itself.
Cleveland also made a strong showing on the All-Star stage, sending three players to the game. Closer Cade Smith, second baseman Travis Bazzana and starting pitcher Parker Messick all earned their first All-Star selections, with two of those nods going to rookies.
Before the game gets going, the pregame spotlight will belong to Jennifer Hudson and Patti LaBelle. Hudson is set to perform “American the Beautiful,” and LaBelle will follow with the National Anthem.
The American League’s starting nine is led by Mike Trout in center field, with Yordan Alvarez batting second as the designated hitter. Shea Langeliers is behind the plate, Junior Caminero is at third, Bobby Witt Jr. is at shortstop and Cody Bellinger is in right.
Ben Rice starts at first, Riley Greene is in left and Ernie Clement handles second base. Dylan Cease gets the start on the mound.
On the National League side, Kyle Schwarber opens as the DH, followed by Juan Soto in left and Freddie Freeman at first. CJ Abrams is at short, Max Muncy at third and Ozzie Albies at second. Brandon Marsh is in right, Andy Pages is in center and Drake Baldwin catches.
For fans looking to tune in, the game will air on FOX and stream on FOX One.
In Other News...
Former Guardians Starter Just Hit A Brutal New Low
Aaron Civales season has gone from uneasy to ugly, and the latest move only underscores how far things have fallen for the former Guardians starter. After landing with the Athletics, he was already trying to find his footing on a pitching staff that has been in flux, and a recent shakeup around the club has only added to the sense that nothing is stable right now.
Civales struggles have been a mix of poor results and bad health, with a rough run since coming back from the injured list and an earlier shoulder issue that knocked him off track in late May. For Cleveland fans who remember him as a dependable part of the rotation, seeing him get pushed into this kind of uncertainty is a stark reminder of how quickly a pitchers value can change when performance and injuries both start piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Know Exactly The Deadline Move Cleveland Rarely Makes
With the trade deadline drawing near, the market for impact bats has already started to thin, and that has put a premium on players who can do a little of everything. Spencer Steer has fit that description for Cincinnati this season, moving around the diamond while giving clubs a look at a bat that could help against left-handed pitching. For Cleveland, a player like that naturally stands out because he could help smooth over some of the lineups rough edges at first base and left field.
The bigger question is whether the Guardians would be willing to pay the kind of price that usually comes with a useful, controllable hitter this time of year. Cleveland has been careful about preserving prospect depth, and with several teams showing interest, any pursuit would likely come with real competition. That is where the deadline gets tricky for this front office, because the fit is easy to see, but the cost is the part they rarely rush to meet. [Read more 🡒]
One New Deal Just Changed The Guardians Conversation On Bazzana
Travis Bazzanas rise has already put the Guardians in a familiar spot: weighing how aggressively to lock up a young player before the price keeps climbing. After appearing in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, Bazzana joined Chase Burns as one of just three members of the 2024 draft class to reach that stage, which only sharpened the attention on how Cleveland might handle its own long-term planning.
Burns new seven-year deal with Cincinnati has added another layer to the conversation, giving clubs around the league a fresh example of how quickly a top young talent can be secured. For the Guardians, the question is no longer just whether Bazzana fits into their future, but whether the timing and structure of a deal can be worked out before the market, and the sports labor picture, make the decision even more complicated. [Read more 🡒]