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The biggest MLB All-Star snubs
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest MLB All-Star snubs

The MLB All-Star process certainly isn't perfect, with many players deserving of the honor failing to get the call each season. Here's a look at 20 players who didn't make the 2019 MLB All-Star Game but had a strong argument to be included.

 
1 of 20

Jose Berrios, SP, Twins

Jose Berrios, SP, Twins
Peter Aiken / USA Today Sports Images

Perhaps he's been overshadowed by Jake Odorizzi this season, but Berrios is having a great season of his own with a 2.89 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 112 innings. Berrios still has a chance to make back-to-back All-Star appearances if another pitcher pulls out of the game.

 
2 of 20

Shane Bieber, SP, Indians

Shane Bieber, SP, Indians
Raymond Carlin III / USA Today Sports Images

Bieber entered the season as Cleveland's fifth starter, but he's been the team's most consistent pitcher this season. He's 7-3 with a 3.54 ERA and tremendous 133 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. He failed to get an All-Star nod despite having the third-best strikeout rate in the AL.

 
3 of 20

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
Brian Fluharty / USA Today Sports Images

Bogaerts is a victim of the deep AL shortstop position, but he's still deserving of another All-Star appearance as the leader in WAR among all shortstops in MLB. He's having a career year with a .932 OPS and league-leading 27 doubles, while also playing well defensively.

 
4 of 20

Matthew Boyd, SP, Tigers

Matthew Boyd, SP, Tigers
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Closer Shane Greene is representing the Tigers at the All-Star Game, but Boyd is more deserving. He has a terrific 11.4 K/9 and AL-best 6.45 K/BB ratio, helping him produce a 3.72 ERA in 17 starts.

 
5 of 20

Hunter Dozier, 3B, Royals

Hunter Dozier, 3B, Royals
Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports Images

Dozier is having a terrific season in the middle of the Royals lineup, hitting .294-13-44 with a .945 OPS in only 256 plate appearances. Playing mostly at third base, Dozier has been one of the most consistent hitters at the position in the AL.

 
6 of 20

Ken Giles, RP, Blue Jays

Ken Giles, RP, Blue Jays
Brad Rempel / USA Today Sports Images

Marcus Stroman is Toronto's All-Star representative, but Giles is nearly as deserving. The closer has been spectacular, with 12 saves, a 1.29 ERA and 49/8 K/BB in 28 innings.

 
7 of 20

Cole Hamels, SP, Cubs

Cole Hamels, SP, Cubs
Jim Young / USA Today Sports Images

Although Hamels probably wouldn't be able to participate due to an oblique injury, he still deserved consideration. The lefty is 6-foot-3 with a 2.98 ERA and nearly one strikeout per inning in 99.2 innings. He also ranks in the top 10 in WAR among NL starting pitchers.

 
8 of 20

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Hoskins couldn't get an invite due to the deep NL first base crop, but he's fifth in WAR among all MLB first baseman as a result of his potent bat. He leads the NL with 61 walks and is hitting .261-19-55 with a .915 OPS for the Phils.

 
9 of 20

Luke Jackson, RP, Braves

Luke Jackson, RP, Braves
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

Jackson is quite a story as a former top prospect who finally broke out this year to become Atlanta's closer. He has a 2.85 ERA and 13 saves over 37 appearances, fanning 57 batters in 41 innings. His 0.9 WAR is sixth-best among NL relievers.

 
10 of 20

Max Kepler, OF, Twins

Max Kepler, OF, Twins
David Berding / USA Today Sports Images

Kepler has shown elite power in the leadoff spot for Minnesota, hitting .269-21-53 with 53 runs scored in 334 plate appearances. He ranks second in WAR among AL outfielders, trailing only Mike Trout.

 
11 of 20

Brandon Lowe, 2B, Rays

Brandon Lowe, 2B, Rays
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Lowe is a top AL Rookie of the Year candidate, hitting .271-15-47 with an .846 OPS and excellent defense for the Rays. He was beat out on the AL squad by Angels infielder Tommy La Stella.

 
12 of 20

Lance Lynn, SP, Rangers

Lance Lynn, SP, Rangers
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Lynn's 4.00 ERA isn't  convincing, but he leads the AL with 10 wins and has a brilliant 2.93 FIP, a better indicator of how he's pitched in the field half. He's also tops in WAR among all AL starting pitchers (3.8), pitching his home games in a hitter's park at Arlington.

 
13 of 20

German Marquez, SP, Rockies

German Marquez, SP, Rockies
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports Images

Marquez's season has been a bit of a letdown compared to last year, but he's still been impressive, considering he pitches his home games at Coors Field. He leads the NL with 115.1 innings pitched, posting a 4.29 ERA. Marquez's 3.3 WAR is eighth-best among NL starters.

 
14 of 20

Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Royals

Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Royals
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Mondesi is arguably the most exciting player in baseball, combining great power and speed, but he's another victim of the deep AL shortstop pool. He's currently hitting .269-6-44 with a league-leading 27 steals and eight triples. Mondesi has also shown elite defense this season.

 
15 of 20

Max Muncy, 1B/2B/3B, Dodgers

Max Muncy, 1B/2B/3B, Dodgers
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Muncy is showing that last year's breakout performance was real, and his omission from the All-Star Game is a head-scratcher. He's hitting .279-20-58 while seeing significant time at three infield positions. The elite offense (.924 OPS) should have made him an All-Star.

 
16 of 20

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

Few players in MLB are more consistent than Rizzo, but he hasn't made an All-Star appearance since 2016. Rizzo is having another great year, hitting .270-19-56 with a .901 OPS.

 
17 of 20

Marcus Semien, SS, Athletics

Marcus Semien, SS, Athletics
Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports Images

Yet another AL shortstop who couldn't leap over Jorge Polanco and Francisco Lindor, Semien ranks second in WAR among full-time AL shortstop (3.0). He's spent much of the season as Oakland's leadoff man, hitting .272-11-42 with 57 runs scored and an .788 OPS while playing elite defense.

 
18 of 20

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

Strasburg was likely a victim of his 3.88 ERA, but all of his other numbers suggest he should have made his fourth All-Star appearance. The right-hander has nine wins with 124 strikeouts, which ties him for third in strikeouts in the league. Strasburg's 3.35 FIP is a better indicator of how effective he's been.

 
19 of 20

Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers

Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

Verdugo hasn't produced big power numbers, but his all-around performance has been terrific. The rookie center fielder is hitting .311/.360/.506 and has a great 2.9 WAR in the first half with the help of his great defense.

 
20 of 20

Brandon Woodruff, SP, Brewers

Brandon Woodruff, SP, Brewers
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Like Lance Lynn, Woodruff's ERA doesn't tell the full story. It stands at 3.79 over 17 starts, but Woodruff leads the NL with 10 wins and has 120 strikeouts in only 102 innings. Pitching in a hitter's park, Woodruff ranks fifth among all NL starting pitchers with a 2.5 WAR.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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