Here is the August All-Star team

The Major League Baseball regular season is six months long, which allows us to break the season into six convenient chunks. Each of these chunks are equal to each other, even if it doesn’t seem that way at the time; it always feels, in the moment, that the first and last months count more.

But as with last year, we have been putting together an All-Star team for each month of the season. Can you believe we only have one month left? Here’s an All-Star pick at each position for August.

Catcher
Mitch Garver, Rangers (8 HR, 1.022 OPS)

Back in 2019 with the Twins, Garver looked like Mike Piazza for a whole year. That’s what he has looked like for the Rangers in August, and, with the AL West getting increasingly tight, his team needs every bit he can give them.

First Base
Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles (5 HR, .984 OPS)

Mountcastle has been one of the best hitters in baseball since the All-Star break: Do you realized he’s hitting .353 since we all spent a few days in Seattle? He has raised his OBP by nearly 150 points!

Second Base
Jose Altuve, Astros (.354 BA, 6 SB)

For all the talk of the fallout of Altuve’s World Baseball Classic injury, this is as spry as he looked this late in the year in many a moon. It actually looks like he’s more rested than he has ever been … just in time for the Astros’ AL West push.

Shortstop
Trea Turner, Phillies (9 HR, 1.043 OPS)

You knew Turner wasn’t going to forget he was Trea Turner forever. For future reference, if you are ever struggling after taking a new job with a new employer, apparently taking out a billboard to thank that employer and its customers for being patient with you works wonders.

Third Base
Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates (6 HR, .956 OPS)

Hayes has been as brilliant as ever on defense, but over the last month, the power that the Pirates have been waiting to arrive since he was a prospect finally got here. With all the young talent in the Pirates system, remember, Hayes is still just 26 himself.

Outfield
Mookie Betts, Dodgers (11 HR, .516 OBP)
Julio Rodríguez, Mariners (7 HR, .429 BA, 11 SB)
Kerry Carpenter, Tigers (9 HR, 1.058 OPS)

For all the things that happened in August -- including that cavalcade of drama in Anaheim -- the undeniable biggest stories of this month have been what Betts and Rodríguez have done. They not only have had transcendent months, they have carried their teams to first place … almost single-handedly.

Designated Hitter
Bryce Harper, Phillies (10 HR, 1.236 OPS)

You may remember, from last year’s postseason, that Harper tends to raise his game when the stakes are highest and the lights are brightest. He has twice as many homers in August as he did combined the three months previous.

Starting Pitcher
Cole Ragans, Royals (3-1, 1.72 ERA, 53 K, 36 2/3 IP)

So, it turned out that the Royals-Rangers trade at the end of June featured two dominant flamethrowing left-handers. You thought Aroldis Chapman was the only one. But Ragans has raised his game to another level since getting to Kansas City and now looks like someone that franchise may have around for a long time.

Relief Pitcher
Raisel Iglesias, Braves (13 IP, 0 ER, 7 SV, 17 K)

As if the Braves didn’t have enough good things going on, they’ve had the most dominant closer in baseball this month, too.