MLB All-Star Game: League to use Home Run Derby tiebreaker

Monday might not see the only Home Run Derby of MLB All-Star week.

MLB has officially decided to hold a Home Run Derby tiebreaker should Tuesday’s All-Star Game be tied after nine innings, Yahoo Sports confirmed Monday.

The mini-derby will take the form of each manager selecting three batters and each batter taking three swings. Team coaches will throw pitches, and whichever team has the most homers after three rounds (nine swings) wins. If the two teams are still tied after three rounds, teams will send one batter to take three swings until the tie is broken.

MLB and the MLBPA had mentioned the possibility of a Home Run Derby tiebreaker in the new CBA signed last offseason.

Fun twist in tomorrow’s All-Star Game: If it’s still tied after nine innings, there will be a Home Run Derby to determine the winner.

The AL participants: Ty France, Julio Rodríguez and Kyle Tucker.

The NL participants: Pete Alonso, Ronald Acuña Jr., Kyle Schwarber.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 18, 2022

ALL-STAR OMNICHATTER, July 18-19, 2022

Mike Trout will not play in the MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium

Angels outfielder Mike Trout has decided he will not play in this year’s All-Star Game because of an injury, but he still plans to attend the event.

Trout sat out his fourth consecutive game because of upper back spasms Saturday. This is the third time Trout has withdrawn from the Midsummer Classic, scheduled for Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, because of an injury.

Full All-Star rosters stacked with game-changing talent

AMERICAN LEAGUE
STARTING PITCHERS

Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays
Nestor Cortes, LHP, Yankees
Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays
Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Martín Pérez, LHP, Rangers
Paul Blackburn, RHP, A’s
Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees
Justin Verlander, RHP, Astros
Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Angels

RELIEF PITCHERS

Clay Holmes, RHP, Yankees
Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians
Gregory Soto, LHP, Tigers
Jorge López, RHP, Orioles

FAN-ELECTED STARTERS

Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
Shohei Ohtani, DH, Angels
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
Mike Trout, OF, Angels
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees

RESERVES

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros
Miguel Cabrera, DH, Tigers (Special Selection)
Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
Jose Trevino, C, Yankees
Luis Arraez, 1B, Twins
Andrés Giménez, 2B, Guardians
George Springer, OF, Blue Jays
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Royals
Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros
Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners

NATIONAL LEAGUE
FAN-ELECTED STARTERS

Willson Contreras, C, Cubs
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, Marlins
Manny Machado, 3B, Padres
Trea Turner, SS, Dodgers
Bryce Harper, DH, Phillies
Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
Joc Pederson, OF, Giants
Mookie Betts, OF, Dodgers

RESERVES

William Contreras, C, Braves
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
Albert Pujols, DH/1B, Cardinals (Special Selection)
Jeff McNeil, 2B, Mets
Travis d’Arnaud, C, Braves
C.J. Cron, 1B, Rockies
Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves
Kyle Schwarber, OF, Phillies
Juan Soto, OF, Nationals
Starling Marte, OF, Mets
Ian Happ, OF, Cubs

STARTING PITCHERS

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
Corbin Burnes, RHP, Brewers
Luis Castillo, RHP, Reds
Max Fried, LHP, Braves
Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers
Joe Musgrove, RHP, Padres

RELIEF PITCHERS

Edwin Díaz, RHP, Mets
Josh Hader, LHP, Brewers
Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals
David Bednar, RHP, Pirates
Joe Mantiply, LHP, D-backs

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout lead way as MLB announces All-Star Game starters

The starters for each league:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

C: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays (1st selection): 74% to 26% over Jose Trevino

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays (2nd selection): 66% to 34% over Ty France

2B: Jose Altuve, Astros (8th selection): 57% to 43% over Santiago Espinal

SS: Tim Anderson, White Sox (2nd selection): 55% to 45% over Bo Bichette

3B: Rafael Devers, Red Sox (2nd selection): 60% to 40% over Jose Ramirez

OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees (4th selection): automatic selection as leading vote-getter

OF: Mike Trout, Angels (10th selection) and Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (5th selection): over George Springer and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (2nd selection): 52% over 48% over Yordan Alvarez

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C: Willson Contreras, Cubs (3rd selection): 65% to 35% over Travis d’Arnaud

1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (8th selection): 67% to 33% over Pete Alonso

2B: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Marlins (1st selection): 59% to 41% over Ozzie Albies

SS: Trea Turner, Dodgers (2nd selection): 52% to 48% over Dansby Swanson

3B: Manny Machado, Padres (6th selection): 51% to 49% over Nolan Arenado

OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves (3rd selection): automatic starter as leading vote-getter

OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (6th selection) and Joc Pederson, Giants (2nd selection): over Starling Marte and Adam Duvall

DH: Bryce Harper, Phillies (7th selection): 59% to 41% over William Contreras

HR Derby could decide All-Star Game winner

That’s right, say going, going, goodbye to extra innings in the Midsummer Classic. Instead, bring on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper and the big boppers for a winner-take-all blast-off.

Because buried deep in the 182-page memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by MLB and the players’ association is a radical new method of potentially deciding the All-Star Game.

“If the All-Star Game remains tied after nine innings, the game will be decided by a Home Run Derby between the teams, subject to the parties’ agreement on details and format,” reads exhibit 13, titled “Tentative Agreement — All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.”

And hear this, fans: As part of the overall agreement, “the parties agree to discuss further details and logistics of a potential mid-All-Star Game concert.”