Author: alaskaadmin

Obviously, every MLB All-Star Game is filled with star players. However, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game might feature the greatest collection of pitchers that a league has ever assembled. Nine starting pitchers in the National League have a sub-3.00 ERA entering Tuesday’s slate (among pitchers with enough innings to qualify), and that doesn’t include the likes of Shohei Ohtani (1.47 ERA), Kyle Harrison (2.50 ERA) and Zack Wheeler (2.11 ERA). Which begs the question: Who will be the 12 pitchers selected in the National League? That’s just one of the many debates we tried to settle as we picked our rosters for both the American and National Leagues for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia (July 14, 8 p.m. ET on FOX). Here’s how we see the All-Star rosters so far. Starters Langeliers leads the way behind the plate, posting the highest OPS (.864) among all qualified AL catchers while pacing the position with 18 home runs. Rice has arguably been the best hitter in the AL, which is why he earns the start in the league’s most loaded position-player group. He’s slashing .291/.390/.611 with 20 home runs, 49 RBIs and 53 runs, making him the clear choice at first despite some stiff competition. First basemen Nick Kurtz (Athletics) and Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) are both deserving and should join the All-Star festivities as reserves. At second base, Clement has been a cult hero for Toronto since last year’s World Series run and has carried that momentum into 2026, leading the AL with 20 doubles and 85 hits while slashing .294/.313/.443. Witt Jr. is the obvious pick at shortstop. The 26-year-old leads all players with a 17 Outs Above Average to go along with a 128 OPS+ and 28 stolen bases in 32 attempts. Caminero leads AL third basemen with an .855 OPS, continuing his emergence as one of Tampa Bay’s brightest young stars. The outfield and designated hitter spots are anchored by some familiar names. Buxton’s 25 home runs and .930 OPS lead all AL outfielders. Trout ranks in the top five among AL outfielders in both fWAR (2.1) and home runs (17). This could be his first All-Star start since 2019, which would be a feel-good moment for baseball fans everywhere. Bellinger’s 2.7 fWAR is the highest among all AL outfielders. Alvarez leads MLB with a 1.070 OPS while trailing only Kyle Schwarber with 25 home runs, making him the easy choice at DH and arguably the AL’s most dangerous hitter this season. On the mound, Schlittler’s case for starting the All-Star Game is historically unprecedented. Through his first nine starts, the Yankees right-hander reached at least 50 strikeouts with fewer than 10 walks, no more than one home run allowed and an ERA below 1.50 — a feat not accomplished since Hall of Famer Walter Johnson did it in 1913. Schlittler is coming off a 13-strikeout start against the Reds, a career high, and he currently sits at 8-3 with a 1.72 ERA (AL best), 109 strikeouts, and a 0.89 WHIP, slotting him as the early frontrunner for this year’s AL Cy Young Award. Reserves & Pitchers The AL has struggled to match the NL in star power this season, so there are only a couple of players on this reserves list who probably deserve a shot as starters. The first is Kurtz, the Athletics’ first baseman and last year’s AL Rookie of the Year. Rice and Kurtz are neck and neck in OPS so far this year, with the former edging out the latter by just nine points. The second position-player battle was a debate over whether emerging White Sox star Vargas should get the start over Caminero at third base. Ultimately, Caminero leads Vargas in almost all offensive categories besides RBIs and stolen bases. Both of these are races worth watching between now and the All-Star Game. There were also more AL outfielders to consider with Aaron Judge out with injury, giving a clear runway for All-Star newcomer Caglianone to make the reserves list. The Royals’ right fielder is batting .275 with a .829 OPS in his first full season in the major leagues, with his .480 slugging percentage ranked third among all AL outfielders, trailing only Buxton and Judge. It’s also a good time to give Diaz more love at DH, because if it weren’t for Alvarez’s monster year, the Rays’ slugger would certainly earn a start in Philly. Diaz is slashing .326/.406/.509 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs, and his batting average leads all MLB designated hitters. It’s been an impressive season thus far for the 34-year-old, who should earn his second-career All-Star nod, and his first since 2023. There’s some real opportunity and turnover within the AL starting-pitching group this year with such established arms as Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet spending time out with injuries. (Skubal may still earn an All-Star nod after successfully, and shockingly, returning to the mound following elbow surgery at the beginning of May. But in his absence, other starters climbed the rankings.) Cease has been exactly what the Blue Jays signed up for, leading all AL starters in strikeouts while posting a 2.71 ERA in 13 starts. It’s his lowest ERA since 2022, when he finished second in Cy Young voting to Justin Verlander. It was a tough call between Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan, as both starters are major reasons why Tampa Bay owns the second-best record in the AL. Ultimately, Rasmussen’s 2.59 ERA and AL-best 0.88 WHIP gave him the edge. Now, as for deGrom, he’s making the list mostly as the Texas Rangers’ lone All-Star representative. Still, he’s been solid, ranking in the top 10 among all AL starters in strikeouts and WHIP. DeGrom’s 10.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fourth among all qualified MLB starters, which should line him up for his sixth career All-Star honor. Soriano has fallen off since his otherworldly start to the season, which featured a 0.24 ERA through his first six starts. But he’s still among the top starters in strikeout rate while emerging as an ace for the Angels. Among the AL relievers, there were no tough cuts. Smith has been fantastic for the Guardians, with his 24 saves leading all qualified closers and should get his first All-Star nod. Varland has been exceptional as Toronto’s closer, which is good for the Blue Jays because Jeff Hoffman hasn’t been the same pitcher since he gave up the game-tying home run to Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Finally, Chapman has somehow improved in his age-38 season and his second year with the Red Sox, posting a 0.83 ERA while converting all 14 of his save opportunities. Starters Baldwin missed a month of action, but the Braves’ catcher is slugging over .500 with the highest OPS of any qualified catcher. On a rate basis, he has done enough to get the nod behind the plate. Freddie Freeman is in the lead in fan voting at first base and has had another solid year, but Olson leads all qualified NL first basemen in homers, slugging and WAR and would be my pick to start among a number of viable candidates. Turang is lagging behind in fan voting, but the 2024 National League Platinum Glove Award winner has fully blossomed into an all-around force. He leads all qualified second basemen in on-base percentage and wRC+ while starring for a Brewers team that is once again defying expectations atop the NL Central. Shortstop was a toss-up for me between Abrams and Otto Lopez (Miami Marlins), who leads the NL in hits and batting average. But what Abrams is doing — leading all NL shortstops in homers, RBIs, runs, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS — for a Nationals team that has stunningly scored the most runs in MLB can’t be ignored. There was no question at third base, where Muncy is an easy answer in an underwhelming field. He leads all NL third basemen in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and homers. My starting outfield is a showcase of MLB’s incredible 25-and-under talent. Wood, 23, leads all NL outfielders in homers and on-base percentage, a rare combination for a rare offensive force. Crow-Armstrong, 24, is on pace for another 30-30 season after an extraordinary June surge that has him leading all NL position players in WAR. Carroll, 25, leads MLB with nine triples and ranks in the top three among NL outfielders in slugging, OPS, WAR and wRC+. Cardinals breakout Jordan Walker, who leads MLB with 58 RBIs, was my hardest omission from the starting lineup and would be my first choice if one of those top three outfielders missed the game. Kyle Schwarber has a legit argument to start at DH, especially after a three-homer game against the Mets on June 20, but I don’t really need to explain Ohtani here. He has the highest OPS in the National League while also pitching. I wanted to put Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez as the starting pitcher for the game in Philadelphia. I really did. I think if it’s close, the hometown hero should win out. And I had it that way … until Misiorowski struck out 15 in a 95-pitch complete-game shutout against Sánchez’s Phillies. Misiorowski has just been too dominant. He’s the pitcher we’re all talking about. Reserves & Pitchers Goodman isn’t just here because the Rockies need a rep; he ranks second in the NL in home runs. Marlins slugger Liam Hicks was the toughest cut, but he has made fewer than 30 starts behind the plate. It’s impossible to envision an All-Star Game in Philadelphia without Harper, and his late surge has made him deserving of the backup spot at first base. Sorry to fellow first basemen Freddie Freeman, Alec Burleson and Jake Bauers, who were all difficult omissions, but Freeman will likely win the fan vote anyway. Second base is absolutely stacked. The Pirates’ offense is the story in Pittsburgh, and Lowe leads all NL second basemen in homers, slugging and OPS. Luis Arraez, JJ Wetherholt, Xavier Edwards and Ozzie Albies were all difficult omissions and would have strong cases to start the game at second base if they played in the AL. I would have any of those players over Chapman if I didn’t need to include a backup third baseman. Lopez is essentially playing the Arraez role on the All-Star team. He leads all NL players in hits and batting average and has an argument not only to make the team but also to start the game at shortstop. De La Cruz is back in action this week, and he will need to hit the ground running in his return from a hamstring strain to be worthy of an All-Star spot, but I think he did just enough before the injury to get in. (Also, who wouldn’t want to see that kind of talent in this environment?) If De La Cruz doesn’t look like himself upon his return, I would swap in Wetherholt. The NL outfield options are numerous, which means a ton of deserving candidates will unfortunately get snubbed. I still managed to put four backups on my roster. Walker and Soto both have legitimate arguments to start in right field, and though Pages has cooled off considerably, he still ranks in the top three among all NL position players in RBIs and bWAR. With a late charge, I added the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds as my final reserve. As of Monday, he had an extraordinary .400 on-base percentage and ranked in the top eight among all NL position players in OPS, RBIs, wRC+ and bWAR. Michael Harris II and Brandon Marsh were the toughest outfielders to leave off. The NL pitching staff is exceptional, and the battle for Cy Young will be one of the most thrilling award races to watch. I have no problem with Sánchez starting the game in Philadelphia in front of his hometown crowd if that’s ultimately what happens. He leads all NL starters in bWAR and didn’t allow a run in June. Burns has allowed two runs or fewer in all but one of his 15 starts. At 37, Sale ranks fourth in the NL in ERA and is throwing even harder than he did last year. It may be a surprise to see a 2.86 ERA for Skenes, but don’t be alarmed; his expected ERA is even better than it was last year, and his underlying numbers are sensational. He ranks in the top five among NL starters in strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ ERA. Wheeler is back and thriving once again, going 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA in his first 10 starts. What a huge lift he’s giving the Phillies. For the second straight year, Yamamoto took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He ranks second in WHIP and opponents’ batting average, behind only Misiorowski. Harrison has the third-highest strikeout rate in the NL behind only Misiorowski and Skenes, and his 2.50 ERA would look a lot better if not for one clunker in Las Vegas (where they might as well have been playing on the moon). I’m not holding that one against him. Meyer is 8-0 and ranks fourth in the NL in strikeouts. Along with Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (6-3, 3.18) and the Cubs’ Ben Brown (4-2, 1.85), both of Arizona’s top starters — Eduardo Rodriguez (6-2, 2.45) and Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.07) — were among the toughest starting pitcher cuts. Atlanta relievers Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee also have an argument to be there, but it’s tough to fit them in as non-closers with the way that Miller, Duran and fellow Braves reliever Iglesias are pitching.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has urged football fans to remain grounded despite firing Norway into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The clinical forward netted twice in a thrilling victory over Senegal to guarantee progress, but he quickly dismissed any suggestions that his nation are genuine contenders to win the tournament. Haaland fires Norway through The 25-year-old forward continued his spectacular international form by netting a vital brace during Tuesday’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over Senegal. The crucial win moved the Scandinavian outfit to six points in Group I, sealing their progression to the round of 32 with a game to spare. This landmark achievement marks the first time the national team has successfully reached the knockout phase of a World Cup tournament since 1998. Striker demands total realism The prolific frontman dismissed any high expectations ahead of facing 2018 winners France, refusing to entertain talk of global glory despite  matching a historical record by scoring multiple goals in his first two World Cup appearances. Haaland said: “I don’t care, we are through. They’ll probably beat us and go on and win the whole tournament.” When subsequently questioned on whether this tournament will ultimately belong to him and Norway following his clinical individual start, the City attacker quickly shut down any excessive optimism. He added: “Depends on what you mean with that. To qualify for the first time in 28 years and going through the group stage, yes, I would say so. To win the World Cup, absolutely not. I think let’s be a little realistic here, and let’s be happy, every single Norwegian on the planet today.” Viking celebrations sweep planet The historic triumph triggered wild scenes of celebration, with supporters performing the iconic Viking Row routine. The emotional weight of the achievement was heavily felt within the squad, who joined traveling fans on the pitch to celebrate a momentous evening. Haaland stated: “It was crazy. Martin [Odegaard] and I talked a bit about it before the match, about whether we should join in if everything went the way it did, and it did, so a pretty special moment I would say for the whole of Norway. “I think it is right up there with the biggest nights I have had in my entire life. I have a bit of the same feeling that I had after the Champions League final. It is incredibly huge. I am incredibly proud and all of that.” Heavyweight group decider looms Norway now look forward to a blockbuster final group match against France on Friday to determine who secures top spot in Group I. Didier Deschamps’ side will present a formidable tactical challenge for the tournament underdogs. With qualification already guaranteed, the technical staff can approach the elite fixture with minimal pressure before learning their round-of-32 opponents.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The GOAT continues to amaze the world as Lionel Messi now reigns supreme at the top of the list of all-time goalscorers at the World Cup. With his two goals against Austria in Argentina’s group-stage game on June 22, Messi surpassed the long-standing record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. It came a week after Messi scored his first career World Cup hat trick in a win over Algeria, while also setting the record as the oldest player (38) to record a hat trick at the tournament — passing Cristiano Ronaldo’s feat from 2022 when he was 33 years old. But this list could change even more. France’s Kylian Mbappé has 18 goals all time at the World Cup, which sits second all-time, and is already adding to his tally this summer. With that being said, here are the players with the most goals in World Cup men’s history. Let’s take a look. 1. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 19 Messi’s six goals at the 2026 World Cup have now given him yet another record on his résumé. Messi has played in every World Cup since 2006 and scored in all but one (2010). He scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup. Messi is also Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer with 123 to his name and additionally holds the record for most World Cup matches played with 29. 2. Kylian Mbappé (France): 18 Mbappé has scored an outrageous 18 goals in just 18 World Cup matches in his career. As a 19-year-old in 2018, he scored four goals for France, helping it win its first title since 1998, and then he scored eight goals in 2022 — most notably netting the second hat trick in a World Cup final ever against Argentina. At the 2026 tournament, he has six so far. 3. Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 Playing in four straight World Cups from 2002 to 2014, Klose scored in all four editions of the World Cups he participated in and capped it off by lifting the trophy in 2016. His 71 goals for Germany are also the most in the national team’s history. 4. Ronaldo (Brazil): 15 Many consider Ronaldo the greatest striker of all-time, as he scored more than 350 goals in club play and 62 for Brazil. Fifteen of those international goals came in the World Cup, en route to winning the Golden Ball in the 1998 tournament and the Golden Boot in 2002. 5. Gerd Müller (Germany): 14 Arguably the greatest Bundesliga goalscorer of all-time, Müller scored an astonishing 10 goals in 1970 and then another four in 1974 in Germany’s title run. He was Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals until Klose passed him. 6. Just Fontaine (France): 13 Fontaine holds one of the most incredible stats in World Cup history, as all 13 of his goals came in the 1958 edition of the tournament — the record for most goals scored by a player at a single World Cup. It’s been 68 years since he set that record, and no one has come close to breaking it. 7. Pelé (Brazil): 12 The great Pelé scored in all four of his World Cup appearances from 1958 to 1970 and won three titles with Brazil in that span. Most notably, he scored in the final in 1958, as the youngest to ever do so at just 17 years old. T-9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 11 Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a goal in a knockout stage match at 41 years old when he converted a penalty at the 2026 World Cup. In his six World Cup appearances, he scored at least one goal in each edition. T-9. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany): 11 Klinsmann scored in three straight World Cups from 1990 to 1998, helping Germany lift the trophy in 1990. His 47 goals for Germany overall are tied for the fourth-most in national team history. T-9. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary): 11 Kocsis’s 11 goals all came in 1954, when his Hungary side scored 27 in five matches before falling in the final to West Germany. He’s the only player to hit double digits in one World Cup besides Fontaine and Müller. Seven players have exactly 10 goals at the World Cup: Helmut Rahn (Germany), Gary Lineker (England), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), Teófilo Cubillas (Peru), Thomas Müller (Germany) and Grzegorz Lato (Poland).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports