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MLB All-Star Game: Picking the American League Starters

By Matt Snyder

Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB All-Star Game
May 13, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) signals to the fans before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Batting Order

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost will ultimately be tasked with constructing a batting order out of the starting position players. This is either an incredibly difficult task or easy task, depending on how you look at it.

It could be difficult because there’s not much to choose between these nine hitters. It could be easy because there’s almost no wrong answer and, being an All-Star Game, these players will only come up to bat one or two times each.

Here’s how I’d fill out my lineup card:

1. Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU
2. Manny Machado, SS, BAL
3. Mike Trout, CF, LAA
4. David Ortiz, DH, BOS
5. Josh Donaldson, 3B, TOR
6. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET
7. Salvador Perez, C, KC
8. Ian Desmond, LF, TEX
9. Jackie Bradley Jr., RF, BOS

Next: Detroit Tigers All-Time 25-Man Roster

This is perhaps a bit unfair to Bradley, who’s having a tremendous season at the plate, but someone needs to bat ninth and he would seem to fit the profile of the proverbial second leadoff hitter.

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