Who will shine the most under some of baseball’s brightest lights?
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will take place at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night, with lineups featuring some of the sport’s best players, from Mike Trout and Bobby Witt Jr. to Freddie Freeman and Juan Soto. While results no longer determine home field advantage in the World Series, they do provide bragging rights for the rest of the season, and that’s enough for these athletes.
Last year, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber won All-Star Game MVP after leading the National League to victory in a thrilling tiebreaker. Who will follow in his footsteps this year?
MVP Odds (via DraftKings)
Mike Axisa: None of the last three All-Star Game MVPs were starters (Elias Diaz in 2023, Jarren Durant in 2024, Kyle Schwarber in 2025). Guys who come off the bench tend to get more hits and therefore a better chance to impact the game, so I’ll go with Travis Bazzana, especially since Citizens Bank Park is a good spot for left-handed hitters who keep the ball in the air. Bazzana does this when he is at his best. He’ll come into the game in the fourth or fifth inning, have a big hit at some point and take home the All-Star Game MVP award.
Keith Feldman: In one of the most impressive rookie classes we’ve seen in a while, Kevin McGonigle stands head and shoulders above the rest. As a reserve, he’ll likely get more playing time than the starters, and there’s nothing the 21-year-old infielder can’t do about it. He’s already closing in on the Rookie of the Year award. Let’s start replenishing the trophy shelf early.
Dane Perry: A reliable player over the years, 25-year-old C.J. Abrams is now playing like an MVP candidate. I will say that the National League starter earned a different kind of MVP award on Tuesday thanks to an early homer and a pair of stellar fielding performances. This early NL lead will hold up and help Abrams earn the hardware.
Matt Snyder: Why not? Pete Crow-Armstrong goes into the break hitting .385/.483/.770 with 15 home runs and 12 stolen bases in his last 38 games. There is a possibility of extra-base hits and/or base destruction and/or some sensational plays in center field.