MLB All-Star Game 2023: National League Lineup, Starter, and MVP favorites

Modified Jul 12, 2023 05:35 GMT

Zac Gallen and Ronald Acuna Jr. are two of the several names starting for the NL at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game

On June 11, the National League will attempt to win their first MLB All-Star Game since the 2012 season. Judging by their projected lineup, the team could not ask for a better grouping of players to make it happen.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen will be taking over starting pitcher duties after LA Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw opted to sit out due to injury. For Gallen, it will be his second straight MLB All-Star Game appearance, also the second of his career.

Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves was the only player to make the team off of the first-preference ballot. Luckily for NL fans, Ronnie will be backed up by some of the best talent around.

Let's take a look at how the National League will look at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.

2023 MLB All-Star Game Lineups and MVP picks

The contest will kick off at 7 pm ET from T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. According to manager Rob Thompson, the NL starting nine will look like this:

RF Ronald Acuna Jr, ATL
1B Freddie Freeman, LAD
CF Mookie Betts, LAD
DH JD Martinez, LAD
3B Nolan Arenado, STL
2B Luis Arraez, MIA
C Sean Murphy, ATL
LF Corbin Carroll, ARZ
SS Oswaldo Arcia, ATL

Between the NL's top two teams, the LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, six of the nine projected starters will belong to them. The 1-2-3 combination of Freeman, Betts and Martinez has worked splendidly for the Dodgers this season. Therefore, it is small wonder why Thompson has decided to put the three together.

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"So far the following Dodgers players have homered tonight: Betts, Muncy, Freeman, Martinez. We know someone's hit a big one off of this one." - Dimers.com

While the starting lineup for the National League does indeed feature the cream of the crop when it comes to hitting, there is also starpower vested in the reserves. Let's take a look at the NL bench heading into the All-Star Game.

C Will Smith, LAD
C Elias Diaz, COL
IF Matt Olson, ATL
IF Austin Riley, ATL
IF Ozzie Albies, ATL
IF Geraldo Perdomo, ARZ +
IF Dansby Swanson, CHC *
IF Pete Alonso, NYM
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr
OF Nick Castellanos, PHI
OF Juan Soto, SD
DH Jorge Soler, MIA

Similarly to the starting lineup, the NL bench is dominated by Atlanta Braves players. Former Brave and current Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson made the team, but will need to sit out of account of injury. He will be replaced by infielder Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Finally, if the National League wants a shot at winning the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, pitching will be key. Although Gallen will get the ball to start the contest, fans will get to see a succession of pitchers take the bump for the NL. They include:

RHP Spencer Strider, ATL
RHP Bryce Elder, ATL
LHP Justin Steele, CHC
RHP Mitch Keller, PIT
RHP Josiah Gray, WSH
LHP Clayton Kershaw, LAD *
RHP Marcus Stroman CHC *
RHP Kodai Senga, MYM +
RHP Alex Cobb, SFG
RHP Corbin Burns MIL

Clayton Kershaw, who made the start at last year's All-Star Game, will not be playing, nor will Cubs arm Marcus Stroman. Pirates starter David Bednar and New York Mets new hire Kodai Senga will serve as their respective replacements. Senga, 30, is 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA this season after signing from Japan this past offseason.

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