Kyle Schwarber to replace Shohei Ohtani in NL All-Star lineup
Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies has been officially named as the replacement for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in the National League All-Star starting lineup. Ohtani, who was the leading vote-getter in the National League during Phase 1 of fan voting, will not participate due to left knee discomfort and inflammation. Schwarber will take Ohtani’s spot as the designated hitter.
The NL All-Star Team manager, Dave Roberts of the Dodgers, has revealed the batting order for the game scheduled for July 14. Schwarber is set to bat leadoff for the NL All-Stars. This marks a significant moment for the Phillies slugger, who will be playing in front of his home crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
Schwarber’s teammate, Brandon Marsh, who was the only Phillies player initially voted in by fans as a starter, will also be in the lineup. Marsh will be starting in right field and batting seventh. The presence of both Schwarber and Marsh in the starting lineup adds to the local representation for the game.
The Phillies will have additional players representing them on the NL squad. First baseman Bryce Harper, starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran are also on the roster, coming off the bench and out of the bullpen. The Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers are tied for the most All-Star nominations, a factor that is partly attributed to the game being held at Citizens Bank Park.
Another Phillies player, Cristopher Sanchez, will be starting on the mound for the NL All-Stars. Sanchez, who has a 2.62 ERA in 20 first-half starts, will pitch in front of the home crowd, a familiar setting for him and his teammates. The announcement of Sanchez as the starting pitcher was made by National League manager Dave Roberts.
The full batting order for the National League All-Stars features a mix of talent from across the league. Following Schwarber in the leadoff spot, Juan Soto of the New York Mets will play left field and bat second. Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers will be at first base, batting third, a position he frequently occupies for Los Angeles.
Batting cleanup is CJ Abrams, the starting shortstop for the Washington Nationals. In the fifth spot is another Dodgers player, third baseman Max Muncy. Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves will play second base and bat sixth in the order. After Marsh at seventh, the fourth Los Angeles player selected by fans, Andy Pages, will play center field and bat eighth. Rounding out the order is Drake Baldwin, the second Braves player in the lineup, who will be catching.
Schwarber has been a significant offensive force for the Phillies this season. Through his first 93 games, he is batting .254 with an MLB-leading 32 home runs and 59 RBIs. His performance has established him as a key power hitter in the league, crucial to the Phillies’ offensive success and their push for playoff contention.
This will not be Schwarber’s first experience performing in the All-Star Game. He was named the MVP of the event in 2025, where he hit three home runs during a swing-off to secure a win for the National League. His selection to the starting lineup provides another opportunity for him to build on his All-Star legacy, especially with the game being held in his home stadium.
The excitement for the game is palpable, particularly for the Phillies players who will be participating. Marsh has described being an All-Star in Philadelphia as a “dream come true.” The presence of multiple Phillies players in the starting lineup and on the roster underscores their strong first-half performance and their importance to the team’s current standing.
The game on July 14 will feature a strong contingent of Phillies players, with Schwarber leading off and Sanchez starting on the mound for the National League.
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Source: si.com
