2011 All-Star Game Will be Pitcher’s Duel

The 81st Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, and it’s amazing how close the series is. The National League leads the series 40 wins to 38 with 2 ties, but as we all know the American League has dominated this game over the last 14 years as they have won 12 of the last 14 with one tie in 2002. MLB handicappers have made the N.L. a slight -122 favorite for the mid-summer classic, and rightfully so.

The starting pitchers ended up being the best pitchers in both leagues, despite the fact that many starters won’t be playing due to the fact that they started on Sunday. Roy Halladay has been considered the best pitcher in all of baseball for good reason. His 11 wins may place him in a tie for 2nd place in the N.L., but his 2.45 earned run average and ridiculous 7/1 strikeout to walk ratio show that he is the most dominating pitcher in MLB.

It will not be as easy as expected for the N.L. as they have to face a quiet assassin in Jered Weaver. Weaver is certainly known around the league as a top pitcher, but he doesn’t receive nearly the respect that he’s due. With the pace that he’s on this year, respect and possibly the Cy Young are soon to come. Weaver led the A.L. in strikeouts last year, and currently leads all of baseball with a minuscule 1.86 ERA. The National League line-up will have a difficult time against Weaver as he has a funky delivery that seems effortless. I have a feeling that this one will come down to the late innings, and will require a key hit from a non-starter to win it.

There have been many players that have backed out of this game either due to injury, family matters or simply not wanting to attend. Each team is so deep that it really doesn’t matter who’s out and who’s in. Expect both starters to do their job in holding the other team’s line-up down, but after that this game will be up for grabs. Tune in Tuesday as the National League looks to go on a streak of their own as they finally broke through in 2010 for their first win in 13 years.

 

Related posts:

1. Braves and Mets Battle in N.L. East Pitchers Duel
2. Wainwright and Kershaw Square off in Pitchers Duel Wednesday Night
3. Rockies Host Cardinals in Pitchers Duel Thursday
4. Angels Pitchers can lead them to Playoffs
5. Weaver faces Tomlin in American League Battle

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