All-Star Game: Breaking down the most deserving to fill our AL roster

For baseball fans, the beauty of the All-Star Game is that they have a direct say in a portion of the roster.

The occasional bad fan choice, unfortunately, often means players having All-Star caliber seasons don’t even make the roster at all, what with all 30 teams needing representation.

As Major League Baseball readies for the final four days of fan voting, we present you a utopian vision of AL and NL rosters, based on merit alone.

MORE MLB COVERAGE:

All-Star Game: Breaking down the most deserving to fill our NL roster

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American League

Starting Lineup

SP, Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox

Sale leads the AL with 146 strikeouts and 107 1/3 innings pitched, and also Fielding Independent Pitching (1.97) and walks and hits per inning (0.90).

C, Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Perez has 73 hits and 15 homers, and his candidacy is buoyed by injuries to Gary Sanchez and others.

1B, Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays

Smoak has been a balanced offensive threat throughout the first half, as he is second among AL first basemen in runs, home runs, RBI, batting average and slugging percentage.

2B, Starlin Castro, New York Yankees

Castro leads AL second basemen with 52 runs and 92 hits, and his 45 RBI and .315 batting average are each good for second in the same category.

3B, Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

Perhaps Ramirez’s most impressive statistic is that he has just 38 strikeouts in 277 at-bats. He leads AL third basemen in runs, hits and batting average and is in the top 10 for home runs and RBI.

SS, Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

Correa boasts a .518 slugging percentage, and his 14 home runs and 48 RBI make him the best offensive shortstop in a deep field.

OF, Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Judge is leading all outfielders with 26 home runs, 59 RBI and an OPS of 1.139.

OF, Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox

Garcia is second to Judge with 51 RBI and leads his position with 92 hits and a .331 batting average.

OF, Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Trout hasn’t played since a thumb injury sidelined him May 28, but he was on pace to finish with 27 home runs and 62 RBI in the first half of the season. Recognize.

DH, Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

Cruz leads all designated hitters with 58 RBI. That’s his job, right?

Reserves

C, Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

Sanchez or Brian McCann of the Houston Astros could jockey for this position, but their numbers are fairly similar and Sanchez has two more home runs in 14 less plate appearances.

1B, Logan Morrison, Tampa Bay Rays

Morrison leads AL first basemen with 22 home runs and 54 RBI; can the roster handle he and outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Rays?

1B, Yonder Alonso, Oakland Athletics

His .974 OPS ranks second in the AL, tops among first basemen.

2B, Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Altuve certainly has a case to start over Castro, with the best batting average among AL second basemen and 3.3 WAR.

2B, Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles

With Adam Jones banged up and Manny Machado struggling, Schoop and his 14 homers best represent the Orioles.

SS, Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

Splitting hairs with Correa, as the pair likely will for the next decade. Lindor has 14 homers and 21 doubles.

SS, Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers

Andrus is quietly having an impressive first half, as he is second among AL shortstops in hits and RBI, and leads the group with 17 steals.

3B, Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins

First among AL third basemen with 52 RBI and a .949 OPS.

OF, Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers

Quietly on pace for a 30-homer, 100-RBI season and your lone Tiger representative.

OF, George Springer, Houston Astros

Springer is in the top five for runs, hits and home runs among AL outfielders; would be a fun choice to bat leadoff.

OF, Aaron Hicks, New York Yankees

The only AL outfielder with a higher OPS than Hicks is his teammate, Judge; oblique injury would take him out of the game.

OF, Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Betts strikes out the least of any AL outfielder (26), and Judge is the only outfielder with a higher WAR.

Gallery: Justice hits the Bronx

Pitchers

SP, Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

Leads the majors with a 1.67 ERA, but likely not available to pitch.

SP, Jason Vargas, Kansas City Royals

AL’s only 11-game winner also has a 1.13 WHIP to go with it.

SP, Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins

Pairs a 106-inning load with a 2.80 ERA, 10 wins and a 1.05 WHIP.

SP, Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros

Ranks third in ERA and strikeouts per nine innings in AL.

SP, Luis Severino, New York Yankees

Severino has developed into an ace for the East-leading Yankees, and has the fifth-most strikeouts in the AL.

SP, Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians

Striking out more than a batter per inning with 2.99 ERA.

SP, Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins

Berrios has just eight starts, but he is 7-1 with a 0.91 WHIP. Body of work will be more complete by game time.

SP, Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

Darvish is just 6-5, but his WAR (2.8) is the sixth-highest among AL pitchers.

RP, Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox

Kimbrel is tied for the most saves in the AL with 20, and boasts a 0.85 ERA.

RP, Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays

Colome is tied with Kimbrel with 20 saves.

RP, Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians

Fifty-seven strikeouts in 38 innings.

RP, Dellin Betances, New York Yankees

Gave up just one earned run in season’s first 11 weeks.

RP, Chris Devenski, Houston Astros

Leads all relievers with 61 strikeouts and fills crucial bullpen role in Houston.