Jhonny Peralta becomes an All-Star for the third time in his career (photo/MLB)

Jhonny Peralta becomes an All-Star for the third time in his career (photo/MLB)

Tonight’s All-Star game from Cincinnati is certainly one that Royals and Cardinals fans need to pay attention to tonight.  This decides home field advantage for the World Series.  Most fans will say this game isn’t fun to watch, or that home field advantage should be decided another way…until your team is actually in first place.

What makes this year’s game special, obviously, is that we have both Missouri teams in first place with a firm grip on at least some kind of a playoff spot.  Through the first half of the season, there are only a handful of teams we can look at and say that they look like serious contenders to be playing deep in October.  The Royals and Cardinals are two of those teams.

The Cardinals lead the majors with a 56-33 record, but hold just a 2.5 game lead over surging Pittsburgh in the N.L. Central.  The Royals are 52-34, the second best winning percentage in the majors and own a 4.5 game lead over Minnesota.

With so many players from our teams making the rosters, there’s a very good chance we could see Mike Moustakas facing Carlos Martinez or Michael Wacha, or a late inning situation where Wade Davis is facing Yadier Molina with the game on the line.  A matchup in tonight’s game, could be a preview of what’s to come in October if we get another I-70 Series.

Here’s a look at the lineups and starting pitchers.

Ned Yost goes with Houston’s Dallas Keuchel as his starter.  His ERA is the second best in the American League and  with Chicago’s Chris Sale pitching on Saturday, that helped Yost make his decision on a starter a little easier.  However, Yost saw firsthand just how good this four-year pro is.  Yost (AUDIO)

National League lineup:

Andrew McCutchen, Todd Frazier, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, Buster Posey, Anthony Rizzo, Jhonny Peralta, Joc Pederson and DJ LeMahieu.  Peralta talks about his All-Star appearance

Zach Greinke of the Dodgers will start for the National League.  His 1.39 ERA is the lowest by a pitcher with at least 100 innings at the break since 1968. I think that would have been Bob Gibson, with a 1.06 ERA?  There are three Royals in the starting lineup.  Lorenzo Cain will bat 5th. (AUDIO)


Salvador Perez 7th  (AUDIO)


Alcides Escobar 9th.  (AUDIO)

American League lineup:

Mike Trout,  Josh Donaldson,  Albert Pujols,  Nelson Cruz, Lorenzo Cain,  Adam Jones,  Salvador Perez, Jose Altuve and Alcides Escobar.