Red Sox with the best chance of making the 2022 All-Star game

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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 1: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a single during the fourth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on June 1, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Red Sox DH J.D Martinez

Let’s be clear here: Yordan Alvarez is going to start the All-Star game at DH for the American League. The Astros slugger may not have a blow-you away average, but he is second in the majors with 16 home runs and fourth in the majors with a 187 OPS+. Alvarez has been the games best hitter since an early April slump, slashing an unfathomable .318/.420/.644 since April 25.

The presence of Alvarez is a tough break for J.D Martinez, who is having a fantastic season in his own right. The 34-year old currently places second in big leagues with a .358 batting average, and while he only has five home runs, he’s tied for fifth in the majors with 18 doubles. That lack of homers, however, is likely to be the reason why Alvarez starts the midsummer classic while Martinez is left to fight for a roster spot.

Martinez’s All-Star chances are likely to come down to his head-to-head comparison with Shoehi Ohtani. Martinez has clearly been the better hitter this season, as evident by a nearly 110 point advantage in batting average, but Ohtani also has the advantage of being an All-Star caliber pitcher. Ohtani hasn’t been otherworldly on the mound this season, but combined with his hitting value, the overall package is greater than what Martinez can offer.

It’s hard to imagine a player that’s hitting .358 not making the All-Star team, but that’s exactly what Martinez is looking at because of the other outstanding DH’s in the American League. Martinez is going to need to start hitting for power or risk being the odd man out of a stacked AL roster.

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