As the All-Star Game comes tomorrow and the HR Derby tonight, I though this was a perfect time to do what is my favorite post that I do every year: the One-Star Roster.

It isn’t what you think it is. Every year, right before the All-Star Game, I make my own All-Star roster, but I use different rules.  Each roster has 15 players and each team has one representative.  So not only am I looking for the best player from each team, but also for the best player from each position. There is the regular starting eight, three SP, two RP, and two bench players, except in the AL where they have one bench player and one DH.  Then, I make the rosters and simulate the games on MLB The Show in a best-of-three series.

Qualifications: 200 ABs and 500 innings played at the position or 75/30 IP (SP/RP) and must not be on the DL at the time of which I write this (Sorry Tanaka) and not traded before I wrote this (Sorry Samardzija), and not suspended for a drug-related incident in the past season (Sorry Cruz).

Let’s start with the NL:

C: Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: Molina is on the DL and Lucroy is hitting .215 with nine HRs and 44 RBIs.  On defense, he’s at 1 WAR, 26 CS%, and only three passed balls.

1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks: D-Backs need a rep and no one on that team, or on most teams, have a better first baseman.  He leads the league in doubles, has 16 HRs, and has been able to scratch out 61 RBIs on a poor D-Backs team.

2B: Daniel Murphy, Mets: The Mets are hot right now and that’s lead by Murphy, the team leader in AVG (.294), SB (11), and hits (113).  One of the better second basemen in the league and he gets the chance to play here.

3B:  Anthony Rendon, Nationals: He’s been a catalyst for the Nationals, leading the team with a .287 AVG, stepping into the 3rd base slot when Zimmerman became ineffective and then injured, and is in a three-way tie for the most RBIs (53) by a third basemen in the national league.

SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: Not only is he the best player on the Rockies, but he’s one of the best player in the NL.  He’s having a healthy season and is turning that into a powerhouse season with 21 HRs, .345 AVG, and 52 RBIs.

LF: Seth Smith: Padres need a rep but Smith is turning into one of the better players in LF.  His .283 AVG is the best among NL LF, his 10 HRs leads the team, and he’s walked 42 times, only Matt Holiday has more among NL LF.

CF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: He’s one of the best players in the game, one of the best players at his position, and the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The reigning MVP is turning in another MVP-caliber season.

RF: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins: He has 21 HRs and 63 RBIs on a Marlins team that wins mainly by pitching and key hits by Stanton and McGehee.  He’d be the number three or four hitter on every single team in the league.

SP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: 1.78 ERA, 126 Ks, and the best pitcher in the NL right now. Starts this series for the NL as he deserves.

SP: Johnny Cueto, Reds: 2.13 ERA, 146 Ks, and an 0.89 WHIP. He’s healthy and on pace to throw the most innings in his career, he can survive a handful more.

SP: Adam Wainright, Cardinals: 1.83 ERA, 115 Ks, and hasn’t allowed more the two earned runs since the 30th of May. He’s the number three starter. Scary thought…

RP: Creag Kimbrel, Braves: Has four blown saves and hasn’t allowed a run in eight games, a hit in five games, and a walk in six games. Lights out closer and is still the best one in the NL.

RP: Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies: Having a resurgent season and making his appearances count. 22 saves on a Phillies team that has won 42 games.

Bench: Hunter Pence, Giants: Pence is having a strong season and is leading the team in AVG and 2nd in HRs.  In a year where Posey is having a down season, he’s stepping up and keeping the Giants in a playoff hunt. (Starting DH)

Bench: Starlin Castro, Cubs: Having a solid bounce-back season for the Cubs after two seasons where he was doing nothing but rolling down hill.  Team leader in AVG, RBIs, and hits.

Now for the AL:

C: Kurt Suzuki, Twins: A great offensive season for the catcher, having a .309 AVG with 18 doubles, both leading all AL catchers.

1B: Jose Abreu, White Sox: His 29 HRs are the most among first basemen in the league and he’s going toe-to-toe with the best first basemen in the league in Cabrera, Pujols, and Encarnacion.

2B: Jose Altuve, Astros: Continuing to hit for a high average at .335, more at-bats, hits, and doubles than Cano does, and is getting better players around him in Houston.

3B: Adrian Beltre, Rangers: The Rangers might be going downhill but Beltre isn’t.  13 HR, .337 AVG, 51 RBIs, and 104 hits on the season as his career in Arlington continues to be hot.

SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals: Quietly having a strong season in KC as the Royals are hot and cold throughout the season. .283 AVG and solid defense gives him a start.

LF: Michael Brantley, Indians: He’s a very balanced hitter, batting a .332 AVG with 13 HRs and he’s got a great eye as he’s struck out only 32 times in 351 At-Bats.

CF: Mike Trout, Angels: .310 AVG, 22 HRs, 10 SB without being caught, still one of the best players in the league.

RF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: Having another strong season and still a power threat, he’s keeping the Blue Jays in the position for the AL East crown.

DH: Brandon Moss, Athletics: .268 AVG, 21 HRs, and 66 RBIs is a better stat line the David Ortiz and only has a worse AVG than Victor Martinez of all DHs in the league.

SP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners: Ace of the AL as he pitches to the tune of a 2.12 ERA with 154 Ks.  0.90 WHIP and he hasn’t allowd more than two earned runs since the 12th of May.

SP: David Price, Rays: The struggling Rays aren’t the fault of Price who has thrown more than 6 and a third innings since the eighth of May and has thrown seven or more innings since the 18th of May.

SP: Max Scherzer, Tigers: Ever since his rough start against KC on June 17th, he’s allowed only five earned runs in four starts, and has pitched less than six full innings only twice this entire season.

RP: Dellin Betances, Yankees: Allowed only nine earned runs in 55.1 IP this season. Oh and only 23 hits this season, 16 walks, for a total of 39 baserunners.

RP: Koji Uehara, Red Sox: Just as dominate this season as he was last, 33 baserunners (6 walks, 27 hits), eight earned runs, and 57 Ks. His 18 saves on the season due to a struggling Red Sox team.

Bench: Adam Jones, Orioles: Worthy of being a starter with a .301 AVG and 16 HRs along with superb defense in the outfield slides into the bench role.

Lineups:

NL:                                       AL:

1) Murphy                                Trout

2) McCutchen                          Altuve

3) Tulowitzki                             Beltre

4) Stanton                                Abreu

5) Goldschmidt                         Moss

6) Lucroy                                  Bautista

7) Pence                                   Suzuki

8) Rendon                                 Brantley

9) Smith                                     Escobar

Results:

Game 1: 1-0 Win NL: Stanton with a solo HR off of Betances in the 9th, Kershaw with a CG, Hernandez 8 IP

Game 2: 3-1 win NL: Abreu HR off of Cueto in the 4th, McCutchen 2 run double in the 6th off Price, Tulowitzki solo HR in the 8th off of Price. Price: CG Cueto 8 IP, Kimbrel save

Game 3: Not played