ESPN predicts the MLB All-Star rosters and has 2 Mets headed to Seattle

All-Star voting is underway and ESPN took their stab at predicting what the two rosters will look like. The New York Mets won’t have a player in the starting lineup. However, they are predicted to send a pair of players to fill out the National League roster. Place your guesses now as to who it’ll be.

The Mets don’t have a whole lot of obvious All-Star candidates. Even a guy like Brandon Nimmo doesn’t have the numbers as some of the other outfielders. He could always get bumped for a team without any other reasonably good candidates. Per ESPN’s prediction, Nick Castellanos is the only member of the Philadelphia Phillies to make it.

What about the Mets? You might be surprised.

ESPN predicts the NY Mets send Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor to the All-Star Game

Both Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor are having the kinds of seasons we can accept only because of how much they’ve contributed to the run-scoring. Alonso is the league leader in home runs and RBI. Lindor isn’t far off in the latter. The high RBI total for Lindor is ESPN’s biggest justification for having him on their list of possible Mets All-Stars.

Because this is a prediction, it does factor in the popularity of players and what happens over the next few weeks. A positive turnaround for Lindor would be much-welcomed by Mets fans who care far more about the team’s record than who represents them in Seattle at this year’s All-Star Game.

As far as snubs go, David Robertson might be it. They’ve predicted the National League to have relievers Alexis Diaz, Devin Williams, David Bednar, and Josh Hader. All are having objectively better years than Robertson. Given the rule of every team needing to be represented, it’s easy to see how a club might end up sending their closer when there isn’t a starting pitcher or position player deserving of a spot.

Alonso and the All-Star Game makes sense, especially the Home Run Derby. Lindor making it is definitely optimistic. He’d be the backup to the predicted starter, Dansby Swanson. As unbelievable as it may be, Lindor actually has the fourth-highest OPS among National League shortstops averaging 3.1 plate appearances per team game. Could he actually make his first All-Star team with the Mets playing this poorly? A weak crop of contenders suggests he very well could.