Predicting which Yankees will make 2022 All-Star Game

The New York Yankees sit with the best record in baseball through early June, and are uniquely poised to dominate the 2022 All-Star Game rosters from all angles. From the offense to the bullpen to the entirety of the rotation, the Bombers have just been … better than the rest thus far. Sometimes, Yankee fans say it, but don’t mean it. At this point … how can you not mean it?!

There will be a few snubs, though. We’re not breaking new ground by making this statement. The Yanks are, for one thing, despised. For another, the league’s lowliest teams need at least one representative, meaning a potential Yankee slot will be filled by the A’s, Mariners, Orioles and Royals. Yuck, etc.

So, who gets a free trip to Los Angeles and doesn’t get to rest during the midsummer break? Who gets to watch the game at home/on a fishing boat/on a sand-flecked Caribbean couch while being hand-fed grapes?

Based on past contests, star power usually helps out quite a bunch; MLB would rather see a big name rather than a one-hit wonder having a slightly better season.

When that first-time candidate is blowing the vet’s doors off, though, the league usually slides ’em in. Especially if there’s a great story.

Though there may occasionally be a statistical argument to the contrary in a few of these cases, this is the likeliest projection.

Predicting Yankees players on 2022 MLB All-Star Game Roster

The Near-Misses: Luis Severino, Jameson Taillon, Anthony Rizzo

As much as we’d love to tip our cap to Severino in the midst of his comeback season after 3.5 lost years from 2019 to Opening Day, he’s the second-lowest member on the totem pole in the Yankees rotation’s All-Star efforts. Which is crazy! Jordan Montgomery and his 1.006 WHIP and 3.02 ERA would be the Royals’ shoo-in All-Star!

Severino, after seven one-hit innings against the Detroit Tigers, possesses a 4-1 record, 2.95 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 55 innings. Though advanced metrics don’t dictate All-Star appearances (and probably shouldn’t!), he’s in the upper echelon of those numbers, too. He just doesn’t quite have the counting numbers, especially compared to his own rotation-mates, and there are tons of highly-qualified names.

Jameson Taillon, too, would be an All-Star representative for a lesser team, but would need eye-popping numbers to join the group representing the Yankees. After Tuesday’s iffy start against the Twins, Taillon possesses a 2.73 ERA and just 47 Ks in 62.2 innings. An extremely valuable pitcher? Yes! An All-Star? In this economy? Not unless he ducks his ERA closer to 2.00.

Anthony Rizzo tailed off a bit in recent weeks before a resurgence, and his 126 OPS+, 38 RBI and sterling defense still make him one of the league’s steadiest veteran presences. He’s been a more valuable Yankee than he has been a certified star, though. Add in a crowded field at first (though less crowded than usual, with Matt Olson in Atlanta), and Freeman is probably a step beyond the fringes.