As the All-Star break celebrations continue, here are three things we'll be looking at around the world of baseball throughout the day today:
1. 2024 All-Star Game:
The 94th MLB All-Star Game will be played in Arlington tonight. Hometown manager Bruce Bochy will manage the American League. The National League team will be managed by Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. The NL club will send the Pirates logo Paul Skenes (1.90 ERA) to the mound to start the game, while Bochy will face Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (2.43 ERA) to represent the AL.
Last year, the NL went 3-2 over the AL for its first win in the All-Star Game since 2012, and will look to make it two in a row tonight at 7pm CT. They will do that outside Fernando Tatis Jr. in the starting lineup, as the Padres star was sidelined with an injury and replaced by a Dodgers outfielder. Teoscar Hernandez. A similar situation played out at second base in the AL, where the Astros star Jose Altuve has withdrawn from the All-Star Game with a hand injury and relinquished his spot in the starting lineup to the Rangers second baseman. Marcus Semien.
2. Day Three of the Draft:
Yesterday saw all 30 organizations select various potential future major league players in Rounds 3-10 of the MLB draft. The draft will conclude today with rounds 11-20 beginning at 1pm CT. At this point in the draft, most of the top talent is prep players who are expected to honor their collegiate football commitments. In order to have a realistic shot at signing any of them, the club would have to save most of their bonus pool from the first two days. Players love the right hand Dax Whitney (committed to Oregon State), outfielder Garrett Shull (Oklahoma State commit) and shortstop Sawyer Farr (Texas A&M recruit) are all widely considered to be among the 50 to 100 best talents in this year's draft class but they can be tough marks, given the bonus caps and tight college commitments.
3. MLBTR Today interview:
With MLB's All-Star celebrations in full swing and the 2024 draft reaching its final stages, the attention of MLB clubs will turn to the upcoming trade deadline on July 30. If you have questions about the direction of your favorite team in the coming weeks or a trade idea you have in the back of your mind, Steve MLBTR's Adams has a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join live once the discussion has started, or read the transcript once the discussion is over.
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