The top hitters will lead off the lineups for the 2025 All-Star Game. The National League team plans to have Shohei Ohtani bat first, alongside another hitter like Ronald Acuña Jr. Meanwhile, the American League team left Aaron Judge out of the top spot.
Besides Ohtani and Acuña Jr., the NL team will feature second baseman Starling Marte in the third position of the batting order, while Manny Machado sits in the middle of the lineup, below Freddie Freeman.
It’s unclear why the AL team placed Judge in the third spot of the batting order. It could be a strategic move for the All-Star Game, but many expected him to anchor the top of the order, similar to Ohtani with the NL team.
Who Has the Better Batters?
While both All-Star teams appear balanced in terms of batting average, the American League boasts two significant home run leaders in Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, who recently made history by winning the Home Run Derby as a catcher.
| American League | National League |
|---|---|
| 2B: Torres | DH: Ohtani |
| LF: Greene | LF: Acuña Jr. |
| RF: Judge | 2B: Marte |
| C: Raleigh | 1B: Freeman |
| 1B: Guerrero Jr. | 3B: Machado |
| DH: O’Hearn | C: Smith |
| 3B: Caminero | RF: Tucker |
| CF: Báez | SS: Lindor |
| SS: Wilson | CF: Crow-Armstrong |
| SP: Skubal | SP: Skenes |
On the National League side, Ronald Acuña Jr. is back and in top form. Despite his Braves team’s struggles, he has been unstoppable, entering the All-Star break with a .323 batting average and 12 home runs on the season, making him a highly anticipated player to watch.
Pitchers Poised to Silence the Bats
A key factor in stopping power hitters like Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and other top batters will be the pitching. With Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes confirmed as the starting pitchers, attention also turns to the relief pitchers available during the game, as their performance will be crucial in securing a victory.
| NL Relief Pitchers | AL Relief Pitchers |
|---|---|
| RHP: Jason Adam (SD) | RHP: Jason Adam (SD) |
| RHP: Edwin Díaz (NYM) | RHP: Edwin Díaz (NYM) |
| RHP: Trevor Megill (MIL) + | RHP: Trevor Megill (MIL) + |
| RHP: Randy Rodríguez (SF) | RHP: Randy Rodríguez (SF) |
| RHP: Robert Suarez (SD) + | RHP: Robert Suarez (SD) + |
| LHP: Adrian Morejon (SD) + | LHP: Adrian Morejon (SD) + |