HOUSTON -- Astros manager AJ Hinch, who will manage the American League in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard (6:30 p.m. CT on FOX), doesn't have to reveal his starting lineup until Monday, though he offered a sneak peek Saturday by saying Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will bat second.
Hinch has also picked out a starting pitcher, which will also be revealed on Monday in Washington.
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"I know what I'm going to do, and I want to communicate to the players first, and then there will be a press conference on Monday that all this stuff will come out," Hinch said. "It's a fun exercise. It's going to be painful writing down some of those names at the bottom of the order, or some of those guys that aren't going to play until the seventh, eighth or ninth, but that's what an All-Star Game is going to be about. As I look at the roster, there's some cool stories that come out of it that I'll share later."
Hinch said he's been in communication with fellow AL managers in regard to how much their players could play in the game. Major League Baseball does a lot of the legwork on those issues, but Hinch has texted some managers and reached out to some players personally.
"I'm trying to communicate as much as I can so everybody has an expectation," he said. "They all have families coming in, they all have expectations. They're all excellent players, and they're all used to being priorities, so I'm doing the best I can to get that out while staying on our schedule here with the Astros. Luckily, I have six guys I communicate [with] directly in our own clubhouse."
Hinch said he's going to try to make sure he plays all first-time All-Stars, including Alex Bregman and Charlie Morton of the Astros. The other Astros All-Stars are outfielder George Springer and starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, who will pitch Sunday and won't throw in Washington.

Altuve was the overall leading vote-getter in this year's fan voting. Tuesday will mark his fourth consecutive start at second base for the AL, and Altuve is the only Astros player to be an All-Star in the National League and the AL.
While watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX on Tuesday, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.
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Plan for Correa?
Hinch said the Astros "don't have a plan quite yet" when asked about shortstop Carlos Correa possibly making a Minor League rehab start next week. Correa has been on the disabled list since June 26 with lower back soreness and is easing back into baseball activities.

"He's going to continue to do a few things behind the scenes, but no definitive timetable yet on when he can get out to a rehab assignment," Hinch said. "We hope it's soon, but it's not planned out yet. … He's a key part of our best team, and that's why we want to make sure he's healthy when he gets back and not rush him, but yet not give any days away."