Predicting the Astros Representatives in the All-Star Game

We are less than a month away from the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. With voting open, it's time to speculate on which Astros may be participants.

Some Astros that are quite familiar with the game may be left out while some would-be first time participants are making compelling cases. And how has injury impacted the two best players on the team?

Let's predict the four Astros that will be participants in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.

Starting pitcher: Framber Valdez

The Framchise won't start for the AL All-Stars, but he's got a compelling case. Framber Valdez is currently fifth in the MLB in ERA with a 2.36 and his 1.06 WHIP is tied for 11th in the AL.

His 2.4bWAR is sixth in the game and his 2.94 FIP is fifth-best. If the Astros would give Valdez some run support when he started, he'd likely be looking at better than a 6-5 record.

Framber made his first All-Star game last season en route to a top-five Cy Young finish, and he's been even better this season, allowing half an earned run less per game, walking one less batter per nine and striking out one more batter per nine. His 10 quality starts are tied for second in the game. Valdez is a lock to make the AL All-Star team.

Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez

Will he play? Who knows at this point. An oblique injury could keep Alvarez from suiting up in the game, but he will no doubt be named an All-Star.

It's a pretty open-and-shut case. Alvarez has carried the Astros offense this season. His 55 RBI lead all of baseball while his 17 RBI are tied for seventh-best. Had he not missed time due to injury, those numbers would be even higher.

His .978 OPS is third-best in the game and his 166 OPS+ is third-best.

No debates to be had here--Yordan Alvarez is an All-Star.

Second Base: Mauricio Dubón

And now for the most controversial pick--Mauricio Dubón will be an All-Star in 2023. All offseason we wanted him gone, but Dubie came back with muscle packed on and an approach adjustment in his swing and all he has done is rake.

Dubon's .300 average ranks second among AL second baseman, as does his 1.7bWAR and four defensive runs saved. He ranks in the 88th percentile in outs above average according to Statcast.

The return of José Altuve sent Dubón back to the bench in his utility role, but the Yordan Alvarez injury has made him an everyday staple in the lineup again, be it at second base or in left field.

His 20-game hit streak earlier this season won't hurt his case either.

Dubón won't be voted in as a starter, and he probably won't make the initial reserve cut either, but each year guys get added to the team as injury replacements. He did a fantastic job batting leadoff in Altuve's absence, and now should have about another month as an everyday player to rack up more counting stats.

Mauricio Dubón should make the All-Star game as an injury replacement.

Honorable Mentions

Kyle Tucker was a first time All-Star in 2022, but his perplexing defensive regression will keep him off this year's team. Tucker posted 16 defensive runs saved last year and was in the 89th percentile in outs above average. This year he is worth -5 defensive runs saved and is in the fourth percentile in outs above average. That's taken quite a toll on his WAR, and he hasn't done quite enough at the plate to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Alex Bregman will also miss out on the festivities this year, having gone through just too big of a slump to overcome. His 1.2 fWAR is sixth among AL thirrd basemen while his107 WRC+ is seventh. He's had a solid, if not unspectacular start to the season, and if he finishes with a strong second half as he usually does, we'll likely look back and wonder how the 2018 All-Star Game MVP didn't make more All-Star games, but until he hits with consistency in the first half, he won't make many more appearances.

Phil Maton, Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris have been lights out as a reliever, but it's incredibly difficult for relievers to make the cut. All three have had great starts to their season, but would be unlikely to bump Yennier Cano or Felix Bautista off the roster.

Hunter Brown will likely be a staple of AL All-Star games moving forward, and his 1.7 fWAR ranks eighth among AL starters, but a couple of bad starts have inflated his ERA to 3.69. He's got a compelling case, but look for 2024 to be the first time Brown represents the Astros as an All-Star.