The Queen City will host the Midsummer Classic this year, as the National League and American League All-Stars square off for the right to have home field advantage in the World Series in the fall.
ODDS ANALYSIS
History will tell you that this game is, for all intents and purposes, a toss-up. Never is one team favored by more than a -130 margin over the other, and last year, the price was set at a dead even -108 on each side at the close.
Totals are expected to end up being low as well. The number to beat last year was 7.5, and there were a total of eight runs scored in the game. Do keep in mind though, that there hasn't been an All-Star Game with more than nine runs scored in it since 2005.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The National League has a major ace in the hole coming if either Johnny Cueto or Clayton Kershaw wins the "Final Vote" from the fans. Neither of these men have had fantastic seasons from a wins and losses standpoint, but both are probably amongst the top five pitchers in the game, and certainly in the NL.
Whichever gets in will certainly play a big role in this game.
The NL starting pitchers include Madison Bumgarner, A.J. Burnett, Gerrit Cole, Jacob deGrom, Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Max Scherzer and Michael Wacha for now, and adding Cueto or Kershaw to that list would be flat out awesome for manager Bruce Bochy.
The AL has no pitchers up for the last vote, so it will be handicapped by one pitcher in all likelihood.
The starters include Sonny Gray, Felix Hernandez, Dallas Keuchel, Chris Archer, David Price and Chris Sale.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's going to be a lot better. Even during the regular season, when the door opens and the fans go crazy, it's something special for me. This time, I will be really, really happy. I feel proud to be a part of the Reds." – Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, who will surely be used as the NL's closer in the event that it is winning this game in the ninth inning
SITUATIONAL BETTING
We really think that AL manager Ned Yost painted himself into a corner here with his bullpen. Glen Perkins is legitimately the only closer on his team. Brad Boxberger has closed this year but probably is best served as a setup man, Dellin Betances has been significantly better in relief than as a starter, and picking both Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis off of his own team probably won't sit well. Darren O'Day is nothing more than a situational pitcher either.
Meanwhile, the NL has a tremendous bevy of relievers. Aroldis Chapman will certainly be called upon to throw the ninth inning at home of this game, while Mark Melancon, Jonathan Papelbon, Francisco Rodriguez and Trevor Rosenthal are not only experienced closers, but many are experienced in the All-Star Game as well.
PROP TALK
When you look for men to bet on in the All-Star Game for props, you have to look at guys who are going to play more than an inning or two.
We have to imagine that Mike Trout is going to get a chance to be the MVP of this game for the second straight season, which means he is going to get at least one, and probably at least two at bats. Considering the fact that Trout already has 22 homers and is batting .302 this season, he clearly has to be in consideration for prop betting purposes in the All-Star Game.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Let's face the fact here; this game is a crapshoot. However, we love the way that the National League put this team together. Bochy has been here and done this before, and he knows what the importance of this game had been in the past and could be in the future for his team.
The bullpen for the NL just looks flat out better to us than that of the AL, and with that being said, the middle innings could be where the "host" team wins this game. Go with the NL with Chapman slamming the door shut in the ninth.
NL All-Stars 4, AL All-Stars 2
The baseball betting odds for this Tuesday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The 2015 MLB All-Star Game will start at 8:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH. You can watch the contest live on FOX.
