SEATTLE — The Space Needle can take a much-deserved break. Major League Baseball’s stars will be the ones illuminating the Emerald City tonight.
Starting pitchers and lineups were announced live at an All-Star Game news conference at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday. Keep it here for the latest updates and details on the 93rd All-Star Game.
When the 2023 All-Star Game takes place at T-Mobile Park, the atmosphere will be perkier than a cup of Seattle-brewed coffee, the cheers will be louder than a grunge concert and the athletic feats will be even more impressive than a Pike Place Market fish toss.
That’s admittedly a lot of Seattle clichés to use at once. Forgive us, though, because it’s been a long time since we could use them in relation to the All-Star Game. The Mariners haven’t hosted this exhibition since 2001. Last fall, they ended a postseason drought dating back to that year, and now they’re finally back in the midsummer spotlight, as well.
But this game will also throw a spotlight on what a stunning season it’s been in MLB. The standings are full of surprises, and, by extension, so are the American League and National League rosters, which are a stellar representation of the game’s global reach; more than 40% of the players were born outside of the United States. Ultimately, the talent level here is as lush as Washington evergreens and as deep as Puget Sound.
All right, before we get too deep into this and reference Frasier Crane, let’s go over everything you need to know about this year’s All-Star Game.
How can I watch the game?
FOX’s national broadcast begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with game coverage beginning an hour later.
The game will also be broadcast in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and TVA Sports and worldwide by partners in 209 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the event, while Univision will provide Spanish-language radio coverage.
Who are the starting pitchers?
AL skipper Dusty Baker chose Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, and NL skipper Rob Thomson went with budding D-backs ace Zac Gallen.
Both managers described those as easy choices. For all he has accomplished in his great career, Cole, who has a 9-2 record, 2.85 ERA and 148 ERA+ this season, is still chasing his first Cy Young and had never started an All-Star Game. He can now check off one of those two boxes.
“Guy’s been here about five or six times,” Baker said of the six-time All-Star. “About time he’s started one. He’s one of the best there is. … Hey man, if Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch.”
“It’s always something that I’ve wanted to do,” Cole said. “I feel like I’m physically able to do it, and I’ve got an opportunity.”
Thomson said when he looked at Gallen’s numbers (11-3, 3.04 ERA, 140 ERA+), it was a no-brainer.
“I had found out last Wednesday or Thursday,” Gallen said of the starting assignment. “I had to tell white lies to family. … This is something I dreamed about as a kid. For it to come to fruition is everything and more, really.”
What are the starting lineups?
Who are the position player reserves?
*denotes a player who is inactive due to injury or has chosen not to play
#Will not pitch but will bat
Which pitchers were selected?
Does the All-Star Game still decide home-field advantage in the World Series?
Nope. As part of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated before the 2017 season, that wrinkle was removed. The game is a true exhibition, and home-field advantage in the Fall Classic is now given to the pennant winner with the better regular-season record.
Are there any other changes for 2023?
The 2023 All-Star Game will give us a preview of new uniform technology that will be implemented across MLB in 2024. Nike Vapor Premier is engineered to improve mobility, moisture management and fit. Nike says the material, which is made from at least 90% recycled polyester yarns, dries 28% faster and the jersey has 25% more stretch. Nike scanned more than 300 players to find the ideal fit.
The 2023 All-Star jerseys feature a print that blends elements of Seattle’s neighboring ocean, forests, topography and the movement of air.
This marks the third straight year in which the players are wearing an All-Star Game-specific uniform, rather than their typical team uniform.
How many times have the Mariners hosted the All-Star Game?
This is the third time the Mariners have hosted. The first was in 1979, at the Kingdome, where the NL was victorious, 7-6 (the Pirates’ Dave Parker was the MVP). T-Mobile Park, then known as Safeco Field, hosted the game in 2001, in the ballpark’s third season of existence. That year, the AL won, 4-1, with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. taking MVP honors in his 19th and final All-Star Game.
How can fans get involved in the game?
Fans will once again have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the game, fans can vote exclusively at MLB.com and the 30 club sites — online or via their mobile devices — with the 2023 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their collective voice will represent 20% of the official vote determining this year’s recipient of what was originally named the Arch Ward Memorial Award.
Which league has the all-time edge in the All-Star Game?
The AL has the edge all-time — 47 wins and 43 losses, with two ties. The scores of those 92 games add up to 381 runs for the AL and 374 for the NL.
Though relatively close all-time, this matchup has been very lopsided of late. The AL has lost just six times since 1988 and three times since 1997. The AL is riding a nine-game winning streak into this one.
What are some other fun facts to know?