With all the talk about how strong the National League has been in the first half of the season, many thought the NL would run away with the Midsummer Classic. The exact opposite happened, with AL scoring three first-inning runs off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez thanks to the New York Yankees’ Cody Bellinger, the MVP of the game, and Ben Rice. The AL continued to dominate from there, taking a no-hit bid into the fourth inning before Juan Soto singled for the NL, one of just three hits on the night for the Senior Circuit.
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Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox capped off the scoring for the Junior Circuit with a solo home run in the eighth, the first extra-base hit of the game, to make it 4-0 in favor of the AL at Citizens Bank Park.
We have your one-stop shop for all things All-Star, from in-game updates and analysis to our MLB experts’ biggest takeaways after the final out in Philadelphia.
Takeaways from the All-Star Game
Key Moments
Jorge Castillo: There was a time when Cody Bellinger appeared destined for annual All-Star Game appearances. He burst onto the scene for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, making the All-Star team and winning National League Rookie of the Year with 39 home runs and a .933 OPS. Two years later, he was an All-Star again and won NL MVP with 47 home runs and a 1.035 OPS. He was one of the faces of baseball. He was a superstar in Hollywood. And then he wasn’t.
Injuries and underperformance led to the Dodgers designating him for assignment after the 2022 season. He enjoyed a resurgence with the Chicago Cubs in 2023 and was an invaluable contributor for the New York Yankees last season. But Tuesday was his first All-Star Game appearance in seven years. Newly 31 years old with two young children, the All-Star nod was already especially meaningful before he delivered a two-run single in the first inning that eventually earned him MVP honors. It was a long
David Schoenfield: Did the AL deliver the most dominant pitching performance in All-Star history? The pitchers struck out 15 batters, one short of the nine-inning record of 16. They allowed three hits, tied for the second lowest total ever. Ten of the 11 AL pitchers used struck out at least one batter. Did it make for an exciting game? OK, no … but it shows the state of baseball in 2026: When the pitchers are on, even the best hitters in the world can’t touch them.
Analysis
Jeff Passan: With Jacob Misiorowski resting a tired arm and Shohei Ohtani nursing a bum knee, Cristopher Sanchez was the clear choice to start the All-Star Game for the National League, particularly considering he would have 43,916 of his closest friends at Citizens Bank Park cheering his every pitch. The sonic wave dissipated quickly, every pitch out of the strike zone deflating the crowd, every hit adding to the crooked number on the scoreboard. By the end of his one inning, Sánchez allowed fi
Jesse Rogers: Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas didn’t win MVP, but with little offense on the night, his eighth-inning blast was as big a highlight as any. He deposited a slider from Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski 433 feet from home plate, electrifying a crowd in need of some fun. Vargas has burst onto the scene this season as a key player in a powerful White Sox lineup. He once again showed why he’s an All-Star, providing the lone fireworks on the night — outside of th
Eric Karabell: This wasn’t the most exciting All-Star Game on record, as the NL registered only three singles and barely put the ball in play, but Monday’s fantastic Home Run Derby, respectfully won by Jordan Walker, certainly balanced it out. I will remember forever the passionate Philadelphia crowd making sure everyone heard them the past two nights. Walker might be the MVP of the weekend, but the Philly fans are a close second.
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