The All-Star Game is one of the marquee events on the MLB calendar, falling almost perfectly in between Opening Day and the World Series (and right after the Home Run Derby).
The Midsummer Classic is the only time each year that the sport’s biggest stars are all together on the same field, pitting the American League’s top players against the National League’s best. This annual exhibition provides plenty of drama and theatre, including batter-pitcher matchups that fans rarely get to see in the regular season.
Sports bettors can add their own dash of excitement to the contest by betting on it at our favorite MLB betting sites, all of which have odds for the event. Bettors can wager on which league will win the game along with other fun prop bets.
The 2024 MLB All-Star Game starts at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16, from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. This marks the 94th All-Star Game in MLB history and the first time it will be played at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020 and is home to the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.
With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the event along with some of our All-Star Game best bets.
MLB All-Star Game Preview
Game Details
- Who: National League at American League
- When: Tuesday, July 16
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
- Where: Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas)
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: NL +102, AL -122
- Runline: NL -1.5 (+170), AL +1.5 (-205)
- Total: Over/Under 7.5 Runs (+100/-120)
Note: Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Subject to change.
As the home team, the AL enters the 2024 All-Star Game as slight favorites on the moneyline. Interestingly, the NL is favored on the runline despite being the underdog on the moneyline, indicating that sportsbooks don’t have a strong lean either way.
The AL starting pitcher will be Baltimore Orioles ace and 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes (9-4, 2.43 ERA). This is Burnes’ fourth straight All-Star Game but first time representing the AL after getting traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Orioles last offseason.
It will also be Burnes’ first time starting. He took the loss during his only appearance in 2021, yielding two runs on four hits over two innings.
The NL starting pitcher will be Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes. The first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes has flourished since his highly anticipated debut in May. In 11 starts, the 22-year-old righty is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 66 ⅓ innings.
Unfortunately for baseball fans, Burnes and Skenes will likely only pitch an inning or two before departing. Pitchers rarely throw more than an inning in the All-Star Game so that as many hurlers as possible can get in the game. Similarly, starting position players only get two or three at-bats before being removed.
Expect to see plenty of Philadelphia Phillies on the NL side. The Phillies have the best record in baseball and sent an MLB-high eight players to Texas, including three position players who will start the game.
The AL has dominated the All-Star Game lately, going 21-4-1 since 1997 and 9-1 over the last 10. That said, the NL is coming off a 3-2 victory at the 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park – its first win since 2012.
The AL has had a slight edge historically, going 47-44-2 all-time with a plus-6 run differential.
Given the similar talent levels on both sides, All-Star Games tend to be close. Three of the last four contests have been decided by one run, while six of the last seven have been decided by two runs or less.
Accordingly, this could be another close game that may not be decided until the final inning.
MLB All-Star Game Best Bets
AL Moneyline (-122)
As noted in the preview above, the AL has owned the All-Star Game recently.
One reason is that the AL tends to have better players, which is true again this year. According to FanGraphs, the top four position players in terms of WAR (wins above replacement) are all AL All-Stars.
The same is true on the pitching side, as five of the top six pitchers in WAR are from the AL.
The AL has also been a bit stronger than the NL this year, with AL teams posting a .501 winning percentage compared to the NL’s .499.
The NL won last year, but don’t be surprised if the AL bounces back with a win.
Under 7.5 Runs (-120)
With so many talented pitchers on both sides, All-Star Games tend to be lower-scoring. Batters never get to face the same pitcher twice, putting them at a significant disadvantage against hard-throwing, high-strikeout pitchers.
Six of the last eight All-Star Games have gone under 7.5 total runs, including the last four in a row. Even the 2021 game at Coors Field – the most hitter-friendly park in the majors – only saw seven total runs.
Globe Life Field slightly favors offense according to Statcast, but not enough to make the Over appealing. With top batters such as Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Rafael Devers, Luis Arraez, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve missing the game due to injury, the Under is a viable play.
Under 0.5 Runs – 1st Inning (-140)
Sticking with the Under theme, we’re recommending an All-Star Game NRFI bet as well.
One of the prop bets available for most MLB games, including the All-Star Game, is on how many runs will be scored in the first inning. A NRFI (no-run first inning) is a wager on no runs being scored by either team in the first inning, typically formatted as Under 0.5 total runs in the first inning.
Since we’re expecting a game with fewer than one run per inning, a NRFI is a reasonable wager, especially with Burnes and Skenes on the mound to start. Burnes has a 2.37 ERA in the first inning this year, while Skenes has a 2.45 mark.
Furthermore, five of the last six All-Star Games have started with a scoreless first inning, so we’re backing that trend to continue.
MLB All-Star Game MVP Odds
It’s also possible to wager on which player will win All-Star Game MVP. Known as the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award after the iconic Boston Red Sox slugger, the award has been handed out since 1962. The winner is chosen based on a mix of fan and media voting.
Since players get less playing time in an All-Star Game, it’s harder for them to stand out and make an impact, especially with so many other stars on the field. Position players are more likely to win the award than pitchers, who don’t hit, often only pitch one inning and are less likely to make a spectacular defensive play.
Only two pitchers have won the award since 2000. Mike Trout is the only player to win the award in back-to-back years, doing so in 2014 and 2015.
Accordingly, all players have significant plus odds to win the trophy, as this is a difficult market to predict.
Here are the 2024 All-Star Game MVP odds at FanDuel Sportsbook (subject to change).
- Shohei Ohtani: +800
- Aaron Judge: +950
- Bryce Harper: +1100
- Gunnar Henderson: +1200
- Juan Soto: +1400
- Trea Turner: +1800
- Yordan Alvarez: +1800
- Bobby Witt Jr.: +2000
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: +2000
- Adley Rutschman: +2000
- Christian Yelich: +2500
- Elly De La Cruz: +2500
- Jose Ramirez: +2500
- William Contreras: +2500
- Ketel Marte: +2500
How To Bet On The MLB All-Star Game?
Betting on the All-Star Game is just like betting on a normal MLB game. Online sportsbooks will have standard lines like moneyline, runline (baseball’s version of a spread) and total. These bets are all straightforward and easy to understand for newer and casual bettors.
Beyond that, books will have a plethora of prop bets on markets like the correct score, how many runs each team will score and which player will win All-Star Game MVP. These bets are more nuanced and are better options for more serious baseball fans and sports bettors.
Bettors can combine multiple wagers from the game into a same-game parlay. These bets are riskier and less likely to hit, but they come with higher odds and payouts.
Remember that the All-Star Game is an exhibition contest, so there isn’t much at stake for the players beyond personal pride. Furthermore, the game’s high substitution rate makes it more volatile and harder to predict than a regular-season game.
Accordingly, we recommend limiting your wagers to smaller unit sizes.
MLB All-Star Game Starting Lineups
See below for the AL and NL starting lineups.
American League
- Steven Kwan LF (CLE) — MLB-leading .352 AVG
- Gunnar Henderson SS (BAL) — 28 HR (third in MLB), 78 runs (most in MLB)
- Juan Soto RF (NYY) — Leads MLB in walks (79)
- Aaron Judge CF (NYY) — Leads MLB in HR (34), RBI (85) and OPS (1.112)
- Yordan Alvarez DH (HOU) — Top 10 in AL in HR (19), hits (101) and OPS (.912)
- Jose Ramirez 3B (CLE) — Tied for second in MLB in RBI (77)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B (TOR) — Fifth in AL in hits (107)
- Adley Rutschman C (BAL) — Fourth among catchers in HR (16), third in RBI (59)
- Marcus Semien 2B (TEX) — Ninth in AL with 61 runs
SP Corbin Burnes (BAL) — 2.43 ERA ranks second in AL
National League
- Ketel Marte 2B (ARI) — Leads all second basemen with 19 HR
- Shohei Ohtani DH (LAD) — Leads NL in runs (75), HR (29) and OPS (1.036)
- Trea Turner SS (PHI) — Career-high .349 AVG, already has 8 HR in July
- Bryce Harper 1B (PHI) — .983 OPS ranks second in NL
- William Contreras C (MIL) — Leads all catchers with 65 runs and 23 2B
- Christian Yelich RF (MIL) — Leads NL with .326 AVG and .412 OBP
- Alec Bohm 3B (PHI) — Leads MLB with 33 2B
- Teoscar Hernandez CF (LAD) — Ranks fifth in NL in HR (19) and seventh in RBI (62)
- Jurickson Profar LF (SDP) — Leads MLB in games (97), ranks fourth in NL in AVG (.305)
SP Paul Skenes (PIT) — 1.90 ERA ranks second in MLB (min. 50 IP)
Past MLB All-Star Game Results
The All-Star Game has been played in most years since 1933 with a few exceptions. The game was canceled in 1945 due to World War II and in 2020 due to Covid.
From 1959 to 1962, two All-Star Games were played every year to help raise more money for the players’ pension fund.
There have been two ties in All-Star Game history. The first was in 1961 due to rain shortening the game, while the second was in 2002 when the game went to extra innings and both teams famously ran out of pitchers.
See below for a list of the most recent All-Star Game results:
- 2024: AL 5, NL 3
- 2023: NL 3, AL 2
- 2022: AL 3, NL 2
- 2021: AL 5, NL 2
- 2019: AL 4, NL 3
- 2018: AL 8, NL 6
- 2017: AL 2, NL 1
- 2016: AL 4, NL 2
- 2015: AL 6, NL 3
- 2014: AL 5, NL 3
- 2013: AL 3, NL 0
- 2012: NL 8, AL 0
- 2011: NL 5, AL 1
- 2010: NL 3, AL 1
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
