The 2017 MLB All-Star game will arrive this evening as the best players in baseball get ready to battle it out in the annual summer classic.

The 88th annual MLB All-Star Game will take place this evening at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, and for the first time in 15 years, the game will go back to what it was meant to be - an exhibition game that is supposed to be light-hearted and fan friendly.

For the first time since 2002, when the game ended in a 7-7 tie, the All-Star game will not see the winning squad awarded home-field advantage in the upcoming World Series, and that is a good thing! Home-field advantage instead will go to the team that advances to the World Series with the best record, the way it always had been for decades before that horrible rule change took place back in 2002.

Here comes the Judge

When it comes to an All-Star game, the line-ups are a fantasy baseball players dream come true! Every player is the best or close to the best at his position, and this year is no exception.

However, all eyes will be on one particular All-Star that is taking baseball by storm, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge.

Judge has put up numbers in the first half of his rookie campaign that most players would be happy with in an entire season. Heading into the break, Judge has 30 home runs, 66 RBI and is hitting a solid .329. The best thing about this kid is he is humble. The 25-year-old Judge is playing in the biggest and toughest media venue in all sports, yet he seems as cool as a cucumber.

Many thought Judge may fold a bit under the pressure of the bright lights in yesterday’s home run derby contest, but just the opposite happened. Judge ran away with the title by blasting monstrous moon shot home runs one after the other like a 4th of July fireworks display.

This kid has the potential to become one of the best hitters in baseball, and his career is just beginning

Starters for both squads, including battling lineups

The MLB All-Star game has changed an awful lot since the first game took place back in 1933. Back then, the players played most of, if not all of the game. Nowadays it is usually 2-3 innings for most starters so the other players can get in a swing or two.

The starting pitchers will be Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals for the National League, while newly acquired Chris Sale will step to the mound for the Boston Red Sox representing the American League. Scherzer has compiled a 10-5 record in the first half of the season with a 2.10 ERA and 173 strikeouts.

Sale is 11-4 with a 2.75 ERA so far for the BoSox.

Las Vegas odds makers have the National League listed as a slight favorite at -115, with the over/under run total set at 9.

Here is a look at the starting batting order for each team in tonight’s 2017 MLB All-Star game. Fans can watch every pitch live on FOX nationally. The game will also stream live through the FOX Sports Go app. First pitch is scheduled for just after 8 p.m. ET.

American League batting order

  • Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros
  • Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians
  • Aaron Judge, RF, NY Yankees
  • George Springer, LF, Houston Astros
  • Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros
  • Justin Smoak, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
  • Corey Dickerson, DH, Tampa Bay Rays
  • Salvador Perez, C, KC Royals
  • Mookie Betts, CF, Boston Red Sox

National League batting order

  • Charlie Blackmon, CF, Colorado Rockies
  • Giancarlo Stanton, DH, Miami Marlins
  • Bryce Harper, RF, Washington Nationals
  • Buster Posey, C, SF Giants
  • Daniel Murphy, 2B, Washington Nationals
  • Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies
  • Ryan Zimmerman, 1B, Washington Nationals
  • Marcell Ozuna, LF, Miami Marlins
  • Zack Cozart, SS, Cincinnati Reds