2015 All Star Game preview

The 2015 Midsummer Classic is upon us and it promises to be an instant classic. Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA) will start for the American League opposing Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA) for the National League. Keuchel comes into his first All Star Game tied for the lead in the AL with 11 wins and second in ERA. He has thrown three complete games so far this year and leads the Majors with 137 1/3 innings pitched.

Greinke brings his MLB leading 35 2/3 scoreless innings streak into his first All Star Game start. He has not given up a run since his last loss back on June 13. His 1.39 ERA is the best in the Majors.

The winds of change will be blowing in The Great American Ballpark as the youth take over. There are 20 players age 25 or younger on each squad, five of them being starters. At 38 years old, AJ Burnett is the oldest player on either side, edging out Albert Pujols and Mark Teixeira by three years. The prodigal sons and prodigies will usher in the new era of baseball.

22 year old Bryce Harper leads the NL class of All Stars in their early to mid 20s, including 23 year old rookies Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson. Mike Trout, the 23 year old reigning AL MVP, is the other must watch youngster. Trout became the youngest player in baseball history to: collect 100 career home runs and 100 stolen bases, hit for the cycle and join the 30-30 club. Harper, three years after becoming the youngest All Star position player ever at 19, leads the Majors in on-base and slugging percentage. Between the two of them they have: 2 Rookie of the Year awards, seven All Star appearances, 205 homers with just nine years in the league. It's a whole new ballgame folks. The Yankee way of the old vets running the game is dead, probably why they don't have any starters on the team.

In the past, when you saw young players, they would be raw, pretty good players and mature into adult players. With these guys, their bodies are very mature and they’re like adults already. Nothing fazes them. -Ron Darling

Tidbits:

This will be Harper and Trout's third All Star Game together, Trout's fourth overall.

This is the first All Star game without a Yankee or Met starter since 1992.

Greinke is making his first All Star Game start, third appearance.

8:00 pm on Fox.