Baseball’s All-Star Game: Who’s Playing and Who Got Replaced?

Report from: Jul 13, 2026, 02:13 PM ET, Philadelphia

What is the All-Star Game?

Imagine two big teams made of the best baseball players in the world. They are split into two groups: the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). Every year, they play a special friendly match called the All-Star Game (think of it like a super fun schoolyard pickup game with the best kids!). This year, the game happens on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

Why Did the Teams Change at the Last Minute?

Sometimes players get boo-boos (injuries) or just need a rest. When that happens, another great player gets to take their spot! Here is what happened:

National League Changes

• Kyle Schwarber (from the Philadelphia Phillies) will be the very first person to bat (we call this "leading off") for the NL team.
• He is replacing Shohei Ohtani, who was supposed to be the "Designated Hitter" (a player who only hits the ball and doesn’t play defense in the field). Ohtani is skipping the game to have a small knee medical procedure before the second half of the season.

American League Changes

Because of injuries, three new players got to join the AL starting team:

• Riley Greene (Detroit Tigers outfielder)
• Ben Rice (New York Yankees first baseman)
• Cody Bellinger (New York Yankees outfielder)

Let’s look at why they got the chance:

• Ben Rice is having an awesome year—he hit 29 home runs (which is third best in the whole league, behind Schwarber with 32 and Yordan Alvarez with 31!). He is playing because Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays) is resting his sore back. Funny enough, the first person picked to replace Guerrero, Nick Kurtz, hurt his thumb!
• Cody Bellinger is taking the spot of his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge, who hasn’t played since May 31 because of a cracked rib (a broken bone in his side).
• Riley Greene is replacing Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins), who hurt his hip. Bellinger will play in right field, and Greene will play in left field.

Important Point: Even though Shohei Ohtani is missing, the NL team still has lots of star power! Manager Dave Roberts (from the two-time champion Dodgers) has three of his own Dodgers players starting, plus two from the Phillies and two from the Braves.

Meet the Starting Pitchers

The "Starting Pitcher" is the person who throws the very first pitches of the game to the other team. On Sunday, we found out who they are:

1. Cristopher Sanchez (Philadelphia Phillies) – He throws with his left hand.
2. Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays) – He throws with his right hand.

The Full Starting Lineups

Here are the exact lists of who is playing and where they are standing, in the order they will bat (hit the ball):

American League (AL) Batting Order

1. Mike Trout (Angels) – Center Field
2. Yordan Alvarez (Astros) – Designated Hitter
3. Shea Langeliers (Athletics) – Catcher
4. Junior Caminero (Rays) – Third Base
5. Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) – Shortstop
6. Cody Bellinger (Yankees) – Right Field
7. Riley Greene (Tigers) – Left Field
8. Ben Rice (Yankees) – First Base
9. Ernie Clement (Blue Jays) – Second Base
   • Starting Pitcher: Dylan Cease (Blue Jays)

National League (NL) Batting Order

1. Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) – Designated Hitter
2. Juan Soto (Mets) – Left Field
3. Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) – First Base
4. CJ Abrams (Nationals) – Shortstop
5. Max Muncy (Dodgers) – Third Base
6. Ozzie Albies (Braves) – Second Base
7. Brandon Marsh (Phillies) – Right Field
8. Andy Pages (Dodgers) – Center Field
9. Drake Baldwin (Braves) – Catcher
   • Starting Pitcher: Cristopher Sanchez (Phillies)

Cool History Facts

• Cristopher Sanchez is the 14th pitcher ever to start the All-Star Game on his own home field (the place where his regular team usually plays)! The last time this happened was in 2022 with Clayton Kershaw. He is also the first Phillies starting pitcher in the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011.
• Dylan Cease is the first Blue Jays starting pitcher since Roy Halladay back in 2009!
• The AL team is managed by John Schneider (Blue Jays), and the NL team is managed by Dave Roberts (Dodgers).

Summary

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is ready to go, but a few stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are sitting out due to injuries or rest. Lucky for fans, amazing players like Kyle Schwarber, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Riley Greene are stepping up to fill the spots. With Cristopher Sanchez and Dylan Cease as the starting pitchers, and full lineups packed with talent from the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, and more, it’s going to be a super exciting game in Philadelphia!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What does "leading off" mean in baseball?
Leading off simply means being the very first player in the batting order. This player comes up to hit the ball first when the game starts.

2. Why is Shohei Ohtani not playing in the All-Star Game?
Ohtani is skipping the game to have a small medical procedure on his knee. He wants to be healthy and ready to play when the regular season starts its second half.

3. What is a "Designated Hitter" (DH)?
A Designated Hitter is a player who is in the lineup only to bat (hit the ball) for the pitcher. They don’t wear a glove or play defense in the field.

4. How did Ben Rice get a starting spot if he wasn’t originally chosen?
Ben Rice is having a fantastic season with 29 home runs. When the original first baseman (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) needed to rest his back, and the next replacement (Nick Kurtz) hurt his thumb, Rice got the call to start!

5. What is so special about the starting pitchers this year?
Cristopher Sanchez is pitching at his home field (which is rare!), and both he and Dylan Cease are the first starting pitchers for their respective teams (Phillies and Blue Jays) in many years, dating back to the great Roy Halladay.