MLB Insider Predicts Toughest All-Star Battles in National League
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The time has come for Major League Baseball fans to start submitting their All-Star votes, and one of the biggest debates is which National League first baseman will earn the starting spot.
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MLB insider David Schoenfield believes the competition is between New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Both Alonso and Freeman have been on quite the tear the first half of the season. The World Series MVP is putting on quite the show as he leads the NL in batting average (.354), is tied for first in doubles with Alonso and Brendan Donovan (20), ranks second in OPS (1.024) and third in OPS+ (189).
Freeman, 35, appears to be hitting better as he ages. Meanwhile, Alonso has earned two All-Star selections the last two season despited posting an OPS below .800 last season and hitting just .211 in 2023.
The 2025 campaign appears to be unfolding into Alonso's best performance yet in the batters box. Alonso is hitting .301 with 17 home runs, 61 runs batted in, and a .990 OPS this season.
For Schoenfield, Alonso being more effective in high-leverage gives him the edge over Freeman.
"This is a coin flip, especially because Freeman spent time on the injured list early this season," Schoenfield writes. "Both have also been incredible in high-leverage situations, with Freeman hitting .303/.457/.606 and Alonso even better at .419/.525/.907. That does it for me. Alonso gets the nod."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 04: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a two run home run in front of Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and umpire Jansen Visconti...
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 04: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a two run home run in front of Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and umpire Jansen Visconti #52, to take a 3-0 lead, during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. MoreAs for who will be named the National League's third outfielder comes down between James Wood, Kyle Tucker, and Fernando Tatis Jr, according to Schoenfield.
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Corbin Carroll get the first two nods, but there's a case to be made for the third outfielder. Tucker is having another superstar season, and while Tatis isn't as hot as he was in April, he is still an elite defensive player in right field.
However, Schoenfield believes Wood should get the nod. The second-year outfielder is slashing 270/.366/.533 with 16 home runs this season.
Finally, second base is perhaps the most difficult decision to narrow down as there are several elite players in the NL. Schoenfield has the competition coming down to Ketel Marte, Brendan Donovan, Brice Turang, and Nico Hoerner.
The various options for the NL starting second baseman is a testament to just how star-studded the NL really is as opposed to a less competitive American League. Schoenfield ultimately votes for Marte, as the Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman has a slash line of .294/.418/.603 with 12 home runs in 39 games.
Ultimately, Schoenfield's starting NL lineup for the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta looks like this:
C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
1B: Pete Alonso, New York Mets
2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
3B: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
OF: Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
OF: James Wood, Washington Nationals
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
SP: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
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