The American League has won three straight MLB All-Star Games. With another win this Tuesday, the AL can lock up home-field advantage in the World Series over the National League.
MLB All-Star Game 2016 odds: AL small underdogs vs NL on betting lines for Tuesday
World Series home-field advantage is on the line as the American League takes on the favored National League squad in the 2016 All-Star Game.
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Despite the American League’s win streak, the AL is a slight underdog at -105 to win the All-Star Game at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Chris Sale will start for the American League against Johnny Cueto and the National League at -115.
The Boston Red Sox have the best batting average and the most runs out of any team in the major leagues, so it should come as no surprise that the Red Sox are well-represented in the American League’s lineup. David Ortiz, Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. are all in the starting lineup for the AL.
After Sale, the AL expects to turn to Corey Kluber, Cole Hamels, Aaron Sanchez and Jose Quintana on the mound before eventually turning the game over to the bullpen.
On the National League side, it is the Chicago Cubs that dominate the starting lineup with Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell all set to start. Even with Clayton Kershaw on the shelf with an injury, the National League has an absolute embarrassment of riches of starters with a group that includes Jake Arrieta, Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard.
The NL will try to neutralize the AL’s offensive advantage with its pitching advantage in this one.
Tuesday night’s total is set at 7.5 runs at the online sportsbooks. While All-Star Games are historically thought of as high-scoring affairs, five of the last eight All-Star Games have gone UNDER 7.5 runs, though each of the last two have gone OVER that amount.
From 2010 to 2012, the National League won three straight All-Star Games over the American League. But with a 14-3-1 advantage in 18 All-Star Games since 1997, the AL has routinely found a way to come out on top in this competition in recent years.
With home-field advantage and a pitcher’s edge at Petco Park, the National League has a good opportunity to turn the tides on Tuesday.
