FAQ: Lineups, how to watch All-Star Game and more

SEATTLE -- The Space Needle can take a much-deserved break. Major League Baseball’s stars will be the ones illuminating the Emerald City tonight.

Starting pitchers and lineups were announced live at an All-Star Game news conference at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday. Keep it here for the latest updates and details on the 93rd All-Star Game.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: tonight on FOX, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

When the 2023 All-Star Game takes place at T-Mobile Park, the atmosphere will be perkier than a cup of Seattle-brewed coffee, the cheers will be louder than a grunge concert and the athletic feats will be even more impressive than a Pike Place Market fish toss.

That’s admittedly a lot of Seattle clichés to use at once. Forgive us, though, because it’s been a long time since we could use them in relation to the All-Star Game. The Mariners haven’t hosted this exhibition since 2001. Last fall, they ended a postseason drought dating back to that year, and now they’re finally back in the midsummer spotlight, as well.

But this game will also throw a spotlight on what a stunning season it’s been in MLB. The standings are full of surprises, and, by extension, so are the American League and National League rosters, which are a stellar representation of the game’s global reach; more than 40% of the players were born outside of the United States. Ultimately, the talent level here is as lush as Washington evergreens and as deep as Puget Sound.

All right, before we get too deep into this and reference Frasier Crane, let’s go over everything you need to know about this year's All-Star Game.

How can I watch the game?

FOX’s national broadcast begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with game coverage beginning an hour later.

The game will also be broadcast in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and TVA Sports and worldwide by partners in 209 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the event, while Univision will provide Spanish-language radio coverage.

Who are the starting pitchers?

AL skipper Dusty Baker chose Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, and NL skipper Rob Thomson went with budding D-backs ace Zac Gallen.

Both managers described those as easy choices. For all he has accomplished in his great career, Cole, who has a 9-2 record, 2.85 ERA and 148 ERA+ this season, is still chasing his first Cy Young and had never started an All-Star Game. He can now check off one of those two boxes.

“Guy’s been here about five or six times,” Baker said of the six-time All-Star. “About time he’s started one. He’s one of the best there is. … Hey man, if Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch.”

Cole, who counted Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez’s epic start in the 1999 Midsummer Classic as a favorite childhood memory, was plenty eager to pitch.

“It’s always something that I’ve wanted to do,” Cole said. “I feel like I’m physically able to do it, and I’ve got an opportunity.”

Thomson said when he looked at Gallen’s numbers (11-3, 3.04 ERA, 140 ERA+), it was a no-brainer.

“I had found out last Wednesday or Thursday,” Gallen said of the starting assignment. “I had to tell white lies to family. … This is something I dreamed about as a kid. For it to come to fruition is everything and more, really.”

What are the starting lineups?

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF (ATL)
2. Freddie Freeman, 1B (LAD)
3. Mookie Betts, CF (LAD)
4. J.D. Martinez, DH (LAD)
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B (STL)
6. Luis Arraez, 2B (MIA)
7. Sean Murphy, C (ATL)
8. Corbin Carroll, LF (AZ)
9. Orlando Arcia, SS (ATL)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Marcus Semien, 2B (TEX)
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH (LAA)
3. Randy Arozarena, LF (TB)
4. Corey Seager, SS (TEX)
5. Yandy Díaz, 1B (TB)
6. Adolis García, RF (TEX)
7. Austin Hays, CF (BAL)
8. Josh Jung, 3B (TEX)
9. Jonah Heim, C (TEX)

Who are the position player reserves?

*denotes a player who is inactive due to injury or has chosen not to play

+Named as a replacement

#Will not pitch but will bat

AL

C: Salvador Perez (KC)
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
IF: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
IF: Whit Merrifield (TOR)
IF: Bo Bichette (TOR)
IF: José Ramírez (CLE)
IF: Wander Franco (TB)+
OF: Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)
OF: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)*
OF: Adolis García (TEX)
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU)+
OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA)+
DH: Brent Rooker (OAK)

NL

C: Will Smith (LAD)
C: Elias Díaz (COL)
IF: Matt Olson (ATL)
IF: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
IF: Austin Riley (ATL)
IF: Dansby Swanson (CHC)
IF: Pete Alonso (NYM)
OF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (AZ)
OF: Nick Castellanos (PHI)
OF: Juan Soto (SD)
DH: Jorge Soler (MIA)

Which pitchers were selected?

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Starting pitchers

RHP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)#
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NYY)
RHP: Luis Castillo (SEA)
RHP: Sonny Gray (MIN)
RHP: Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
RHP: Kevin Gausman (TOR)
LHP: Shane McClanahan (TB)*
LHP: Framber Valdez (HOU)
RHP: Michael Lorenzen (DET)
RHP: George Kirby (SEA)+
RHP: Pablo López (MIN)+

Relievers

RHP: Kenley Jansen (BOS)
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)*
RHP: Félix Bautista (BAL)
RHP: Yennier Cano (BAL)
RHP: Carlos Estévez (LAA)+

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Starting pitchers

RHP: Zac Gallen (AZ)
RHP: Spencer Strider (ATL)*
RHP: Bryce Elder (ATL)*
LHP: Justin Steele (CHC)
RHP: Mitch Keller (PIT)
RHP: Josiah Gray (WSH)
LHP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)*
RHP: Marcus Stroman (CHC)*
RHP: Kodai Senga (NYM)+
RHP: Alex Cobb (SF)+
RHP: Corbin Burnes (MIL)+

Relievers

RHP: Alexis Díaz (CIN)
LHP: Josh Hader (SD)
RHP: Devin Williams (MIL)*
RHP: Camilo Doval (SF)
RHP: David Bednar (PIT)+
RHP: Craig Kimbrel (PHI)+

Does the All-Star Game still decide home-field advantage in the World Series?

Nope. As part of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated before the 2017 season, that wrinkle was removed. The game is a true exhibition, and home-field advantage in the Fall Classic is now given to the pennant winner with the better regular-season record.

Are there any other changes for 2023?

The 2023 All-Star Game will give us a preview of new uniform technology that will be implemented across MLB in 2024. Nike Vapor Premier is engineered to improve mobility, moisture management and fit. Nike says the material, which is made from at least 90% recycled polyester yarns, dries 28% faster and the jersey has 25% more stretch. Nike scanned more than 300 players to find the ideal fit.

The 2023 All-Star jerseys feature a print that blends elements of Seattle’s neighboring ocean, forests, topography and the movement of air.

This marks the third straight year in which the players are wearing an All-Star Game-specific uniform, rather than their typical team uniform.

How many times have the Mariners hosted the All-Star Game?

This is the third time the Mariners have hosted. The first was in 1979, at the Kingdome, where the NL was victorious, 7-6 (the Pirates’ Dave Parker was the MVP). T-Mobile Park, then known as Safeco Field, hosted the game in 2001, in the ballpark’s third season of existence. That year, the AL won, 4-1, with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. taking MVP honors in his 19th and final All-Star Game.

How can fans get involved in the game?

Fans will once again have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the game, fans can vote exclusively at MLB.com and the 30 club sites -- online or via their mobile devices -- with the 2023 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their collective voice will represent 20% of the official vote determining this year’s recipient of what was originally named the Arch Ward Memorial Award.

Which league has the all-time edge in the All-Star Game?

The AL has the edge all-time -- 47 wins and 43 losses, with two ties. The scores of those 92 games add up to 381 runs for the AL and 374 for the NL.

Though relatively close all-time, this matchup has been very lopsided of late. The AL has lost just six times since 1988 and three times since 1997. The AL is riding a nine-game winning streak into this one.

What are some other fun facts to know?

• Carroll and Jung are just the second duo of rookies to start the same All-Star Game, joining the Cubs’ Kosuke Fukodome and Geovany Soto in 2008. So this marks the first time that each starting lineup will feature a rookie.

• The Braves’ eight All-Stars are their most in franchise history and tied for the most by an NL franchise (joining the 2008 Cubs, 1960 Pirates, 1956 Reds and 1943 Cardinals). The last time a team sent eight players to the All-Star Game was the 2012 Rangers.

• This is just the second time since 2014 (Minnesota’s Target Field) that an AL venue has hosted the All-Star Game. Cleveland’s Progressive Field hosted in 2019. Next year’s game is also at an AL venue (Texas’ Globe Life Field).

• Though he won’t be able to participate in this game, Trout is the senior-most All-Star, with 11 selections, followed by Kershaw (10), Arenado (8), Perez (8), Betts (7), Freeman (7), Cole (6) and Martinez (6).

• Rodríguez joined former Mariners legends Ken Griffey Jr., Félix Hernández and Edgar Martinez in serving as an All-Star Ambassador during All-Star Week.