All-Star Update: Orioles

Today Major League Baseball came out with their fourth All-Star update.  As of right now the starters for the  American League All-Star team are

1B Eric Hosmer, Royals (2,054,642)

2B Jose Altuve, Astros (1,606,705)

3B Manny Machado, Orioles (1,626,064)

SS Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (2,116,020)

DH David Ortiz, Red Sox (2,612,215)

OF Mike Trout, Angles (2,324,597)

OF Jackie Bradley Jr. Red Sox (1,725,672)

OF Mookie Betts, Red Sox (1,435,218)

C Salvador Perez, Royals (2,744,293)

The Orioles have one starter, Manny Machado, in the line up right now but they have many other players that could make the All Star Game either as a starter or a reserve.

Locks

Manny Machado, 3B

Machado leads the starting 3rd base spot by over 500,000 votes and is a contender to win the American League MVP award.  Machado is hitting hitting .317 with 17 home runs and will most likely going to win a gold glove (again).  Manny is a guaranteed to make the game and to start at 3B; this will be his 3rd All-Star Game.

Mark Trumbo, OF

This offseason the Orioles traded their back-up catcher Steve Clevenger for outfielder Mark Trumbo which has worked out very well for the Orioles.  Trumbo is tied with Nolan Arenado and Adam Duvall for the Major League lead in home runs with 20.  Trumbo is in fourth place for outfielders and just 27,000 votes behind Mookie Betts.  This will be Trumbo’s second time making the All-Star Game.

Chris Tillman, SP

Chris Tillman is having the best season of his career and is a lock to make this years All-Star team.  Tillman is 10-1 with a 3.11 ERA.  The question for Tillman is weather he will get the opportunity to  start the game or not.  In the National League Clayton Kershaw will start the All-Star Game but in the American League there are many candidates for the American League starting spot.  Tillman will be completing with Steven Wright, Chris Sale and Danny Salazar for the starting spot.   This year will be Tillman’s second time making the All-Star Game.

Zack Britton, RP

The Orioles closer is perfect so far this season in saves, going 20-20 this season.  He has also posted a 0.93 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP.  Last season Britton established himself as a premier closer in the bigs but this season he is making his case for the best closer in baseball.  This will be Brittons second All-Star game.

Probables

Matt Weiters, C

Weiters is currently second behind Salvador Perez in the voting for catchers.  Weiters is most likely going to make his fourth All-Star appearance this season.  Matt is having a very good season offensively and defensively.  The only reason he is in this category was opposed to a lock is because in the beginning of the season he split playing time with Caleb Joseph.  Having said that Weiters is the second best catcher in the American League and should be a part of the All-Star game.

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Brad Brach, RP 

Brach is having a break out season out of the bullpen for the O’s.  He recently had 18 straight outings without allowing a run until giving up a home run to David Ortiz last week.  Brach has posted a 1.16 ERA in 31 games this season.  He is one of the best relief pitchers in the majors but the problem with him making the All-Star team is he is not a closer.  The only thing holding him back is there are usually only two or three non-closer relief pitchers selected to be on the All-Star team.  Brach is a top 3 non closer relief pitcher in the American League and will most likely make the game.  If he makes it it will be his first All-Star appearance.

Maybe’s

Adam Jones, OF 

Jones got off to a very slow start to the season but since he was moved to the leadoff spot in the lineup Jones has started to get hot.  Jones is just hitting .244 with and is starting to get his power back hitting 8 home runs so far in June.  Jones is 13th in voting for outfielders and is still a candidate to make the All-Star team.  Jones’s popularity is one of the main reasons he is still in the race for a spot.  Jones is looking to make his 5th consecutive All-Star game.

Chris Davis, 1B

The power off the bat of Davis has been there this year but the batting average is not where it was for him last season.  Davis has been hot lately but is hitting just .234.  Chris is third in the voting for First Baseman behind Hosmer and Cabrera.  Like Jones, Davis is still a contender to make the All-Star team because of his popularity.  If Davis makes the team  it will be just his second time making the team after getting snubbed last season.  He last made the team in 2013 when he hit 53 home runs.