MLB All-Star Game Best Bets, Picks: Will the American League Continue its Streak?
Need betting picks for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game? We've got you covered. Handicapper Ben Rajavuori is here to break down his favorite pick for tonight's Midsummer Classic. Which side should you be backing? Find out here.
Ben Rajavuori - July 11, 2023, 3:52 PM EDT
3 minMLB All-Star Game Best Bets, Picks: Will the American League Continue its Streak?
The 2023 MLB All-Star game is here and features the AL looking to make it 10 in a row against the NL after a close 3-2 win last year. The starting pitchers for tonight's game will be Gerrit Cole of the Yankees and Zac Gallen of the Diamondbacks. The last time the All-Star game featured starters from the Yankees and Diamondbacks was back in 2001 between Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. The National League is a very slight favorite in this game at -110, as the comeback on the American League is -106, despite the nine-game win streak for the American League. Is this the year the National League breaks the streak?
MLB All-Star Game Date, Time and Where to Watch
- Date: July 11, 2023
- Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
MLB All-Star Game Best Bets
I've seen a lot of people backing the National League this year. It makes sense, as Zac Gallen is currently the favorite to win the NL Cy Young award this season and he is having an exceptional season far. People are also looking to fade Cole a bit, as he is a fastball pitcher and the NL lineup has good numbers off him. However, The starting pitching matchup doesn't really mean much, to be honest. Gerrit Cole will be pitching a MAXIMUM of two innings, so in the long run, that's most likely one at-bat per person in the lineup. What I am more interested in is who will pitch behind Cole and Gallen.
The AL looks to have the better pitching cast behind the starters. After Cole comes out, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Nathan Eovaldi, Framber Valdez, and Kevin Gausman are waiting in the wings. They also have closers Emmanuel Clase and Felix Bautista. On the NL side, I'm a little worried. Clayton Kershaw, Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder, Marcus Stroman, and Devin Williams were all named to the all-star team...but none of them will pitch. That's a massive hole of some of the best pitchers this season that will not pitch for the NL. They have replacements (David Bednar for Kershaw, Alex Cobb for Elder, Kodai Senga for Stroman, Craig Kimbrel for Williams, and Corbin Burnes for Strider), but they do not pack the same punch as the pitchers originally voted in. As far as I'm concerned, the AL has the pitching matchup in this game. In a ballpark that is more pitcher-friendly, like T-Mobile Park, I will side with the team with the pitching advantage.
It seems like the pitching usually decides the games in these all-star matchups anyway, as most years are low-scoring affairs. It's expected to be another pitching battle this year, as the total sits at just 7.5. 12 of the last 14 all-star games have had 8 runs or less, and the star-studded AL pitching lineup should keep even the great bats the NL has quiet. Looking the order up and down, the NL appears to have a more complete lineup, a lot in part by Aaron Judge and Mike Trout missing this year's game with injury. However, this game comes down to pitching for me. The AL has a much better bullpen behind Cole than the NL has behind Gallen. The NL might score first and take an early lead, but I expect the AL to bounce back and win. I'm backing the AL to win for the 10th year in a row.
MLB All-Star Game Picks
- Pick: American League ML @ -106 (Click here to see which sportsbooks have the best odds)
MLB Odds
