5 All-Star Game storylines to watch

Plus: Help pick the All-Star Game MVP

Tuesday, July 14 View Online Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Today we have a special All-Star Game edition of the newsletter.   It's time for the All-Star Game. After last night's Home Run Derby thriller, we can't wait to see what the best players in baseball have in store for us tonight.  2026 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: 8 p.m. ET on FOX Can the All-Star Game possibly top the Derby? We're hoping we get an instant-classic Midsummer Classic -- just like last year's. And there's definitely no shortage of compelling storylines to look out for.   Here are five of the big ones we'll be watching in the All-Star Game:    1) Mike Trout leading off the game    Trout is one of the greatest All-Star Game performers in history. He's one of only five players to win multiple All-Star Game MVPs -- along with Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter and Cal Ripken Jr. -- and he's the only player to win the award in back-to-back years.    That was all the way back in 2014 and '15. But lucky for us, Trout is back playing in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2019, and he's leading off the game for the American League against National League starter Cristopher Sánchez. The Angels superstar has two career All-Star Game home runs -- one off Zack Greinke, one off Jacob deGrom. What better time for another Trout moment?       2) Can the hometown hero Schwarber do it again?    If anyone can join Trout in winning back-to-back All-Star Game MVPs, it's Kyle Schwarber. He won the award last year after going 3-for-3 in the tiebreaking Derby-style swing-off to carry the NL to victory.    Now Schwarbs is playing in front of his home crowd. The Phillies superstar slugger is leading off for the NL against AL starter Dylan Cease -- and Schwarber is coming into the game with a chip on his shoulder after getting walked off by Jordan Walker in the Home Run Derby yesterday.    3) Yordan vs. the electric NL pitching staff    Yordan Alvarez has been the best hitter in the AL this year, if not the Majors. He's a Triple Crown threat, batting .318 with a league-leading 31 homers and 70 RBIs. He leads MLB with a 1.059 OPS.   The Astros' MVP candidate is batting second in the All-Star Game, and against the loaded NL pitching staff, every Alvarez at-bat will be a must-watch -- whether it's facing Sánchez in the first inning or any of the electric arms that come in after him.    4) Soto in his first Mets All-Star Game    Juan Soto has now made the All-Star Game with all four teams he's played for: the Nationals, Padres, Yankees and finally the Mets. But as he plays in his fifth Midsummer Classic, and makes his second start, Soto is still looking for his first All-Star Game home run. Can he get it today?   5) The Halladay connection   The two starting pitchers tonight, Sánchez and Cease, are connected by one Hall of Fame hurler: the late, great Roy Halladay.    The hometown ace Sánchez is the first Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Halladay in 2011. Meanwhile, Cease is the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since … also Halladay, in 2009.    Doc starred in Toronto for the first 12 seasons of his career before moving to Philadelphia for the final four. He won a Cy Young Award in both cities. Now Sánchez and Cease are among the frontrunners in their respective leagues this year.     Read more on the Sánchez-Cease matchup here >> ALL THE KEY INFO FOR THE ALL-STAR GAME Before the All-Star Game starts, here's our FAQ with everything you need to know.   Head to that link for all the info, but to get you started:    How can I watch the game?    The 96th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET and the game set for 8 p.m.; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and TDA Sports; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game, while Univision will provide Spanish-language coverage on radio.   What are the starting lineups?    American League  Mike Trout (LAA), CF Yordan Alvarez (HOU), DH Shea Langeliers (ATH), C Junior Caminero (TB), 3B Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), SS Cody Bellinger (NYY), RF Ben Rice (NYY), 1B Riley Greene (DET), LF Ernie Clement (TOR), 2B SP: Dylan Cease (TOR) National League  Kyle Schwarber (PHI), DH Juan Soto (NYM), LF Freddie Freeman (LAD), 1B CJ Abrams (WSH), SS Max Muncy (LAD), 3B Ozzie Albies (ATL), 2B Brandon Marsh (PHI), RF Andy Pages (LAD), CF Drake Baldwin (ATL), C SP: Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) Which league has the all-time edge in the All-Star Game?   The AL has the all-time lead -- 48 wins and 45 losses, with two ties -- and has dominated in recent decades. The AL has lost just eight times since 1988 and five times since 1997. The league was undefeated in 13 consecutive All-Star Games from 1997 through 2009. After three straight losses from 2010-2012, the AL has won 10 of the past 12 games.   What do the All-Star Game uniforms look like?   Leaning into the United States' 250th anniversary and the historic significance of Philly, Nike and MLB designed special-edition All-Star jerseys with a "Stars & Stripes" theme. They feature patriotic red, white and blue accents, stars-and-stripes graphics and America 250 commemorative branding. These elements are blended into each player’s traditional team identity and colors. The New Era caps feature commemorative side patches showcasing iconic Philadelphia imagery, such as the Liberty Bell.   See the complete All-Star FAQ here >> HELP PICK THE ALL-STAR GAME MVP You can help pick the All-Star Game MVP tonight.    Go here to vote for who you think should take home the MVP honors. Voting opens during the sixth inning of the game.   To vote for a player, click on the selected player from either the American League or National League list of participants.   The Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award will be presented immediately after the game. See the list of past winners here. WATCH THE BIGGEST HR DERBY MOONSHOTS In case you missed the Home Run Derby last night -- or just want to relive some of its longest dingers -- check out these mammoth blasts …   Junior Caminero's 491-foot home run    The Rays star, who was the runner-up in the 2025 Derby, returned and launched the longest home run of the 2026 Derby in the second round. Willson Contreras' 490-foot home run    Contreras, whose 491-foot home run in the 2017 playoffs was the longest in a real game by any hitter in the Derby field, went nearly as deep in Round 1 last night.  Jac Caglianone's 477-foot home run    Cags went deep into the third deck in right field in Philadelphia during his Derby round -- the only hitter to reach that tier of the stadium in the entire Home Run Derby. THE HOME RUN DERBY BY THE NUMBERS We collected the coolest stats and facts from last night's Derby. Here are six numbers to know:   131: Total number of home runs hit by the eight sluggers.   56,343: Total distance traveled by those home runs, in feet -- or about 10.7 miles.   15: Home runs hit 470 feet or longer -- including six by Willson Contreras, five by Junior Caminero, two by Jac Caglianone, one by Derby champ Jordan Walker and one by Philadelphia's own Bryce Harper.   69: Homers hit 430 feet or longer, or more than half of the night’s total.   7: Competitors (all but Ben Rice) who hit at least one homer 460-plus feet   104: Hometown favorite and Derby runner-up Kyle Schwarber’s career homer total in three Home Run Derby appearances -- more than any hitter in the event’s history other than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (163), Julio Rodríguez (142) and Albert Pujols (106). © 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners. 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