Kyle Schwarber of host Phillies will lead off for NL in All-Star Game | Live updates

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Last updated: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 5:44PM GMT
Kyle Schwarber of host Phillies will lead off for NL in All-Star Game

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia gets underway on Tuesday night.

Six players will represent the Phillies, including Brandon Marsh, pitchers Jhoan Duran, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber will lead off for the National League as the replacement for designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who is skipping the showcase to have a knee procedure ahead of the season's second half.

The National League will look for a second consecutive victory over the American League after winning last year in a first-ever, Home Run Derby-style swing-off -- the tiebreaker, as the game was tied 6-6 after nine innings.

The Phillies are hosting the All-Star Game for the fourth time in their history -- but it will be the first time at Citizens Bank Park.

Follow live updates on all the excitement below:

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3 hours and 40 minutes ago

Schwarber honors fallen Central Berks Police Officer Kristen Yeager with wristband

Kyle Schwarber may not have taken home the Home Run Derby trophy on Monday night, but he hit a home run with a tribute that touched an entire community.

Schwarber wore a wristband honoring fallen Central Berks Police Officer Kristen Yeager, keeping her memory alive on baseball's biggest stage.

Schwarber wore a wristband honoring fallen Central Berks Police Officer Kristen Yeager

The 42-year-old was killed in May when her patrol car crashed while responding to a call.

Officer Kristen Yeager
Officer Kristen Yeager

The Central Berks Police force says the tribute meant the world to Yeager's family, fellow officers, and the entire community, saying she had the best seat in the house.

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10:55 AM GMT

Players to trade jerseys for best looks at All-Star Red Carpet Show on Independence Mall

Before the first pitch flies tonight in South Philadelphia, MLB's biggest stars are stepping onto a different kind of stage.

The 2026 All-Star Red Carpet Show is happening Tuesday on Independence Mall, where players will trade their jerseys for their best looks.

The event starts at 2 p.m.

Tickets to the Fan Pens have already been claimed, but first-come-first-served bleacher seating and standing room will be available.

Tickets to the Fan Pens have already been claimed, but first-come-first-served bleacher seating and standing room will be available.
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10:45 AM GMT

Kyle Schwarber of host Phillies will lead off for NL in All-Star Game

Kyle Schwarber of the host Philadelphia Phillies will lead off for the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game as the replacement for designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who is skipping the showcase to have a knee procedure ahead of the season's second half.

Brandon Marsh is also starting for the National League. He'll bat 7th and play in right field.

Cristopher Sanchez will be on the mound to start the game for the NL.

New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Cody Bellinger, and Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene gained American League starting spots because of injuries.

Rice, third in the major leagues with 29 home runs, starts at first base because Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is skipping the game to rest a bad back. Guerrero's initial replacement, the Athletics' Nick Kurtz, sprained a thumb.

The All-Star Game is just the latest event here in the city of Philadelphia that's putting the city in the spotlight.

If you're going to the All-Star game tonight, make sure you're in your seats early because Kyle Schwarber is leading off.

With the home team and city well-represented in Tuesday night's match-up, the fans have a lot to cheer for.

The Associated Press contributed to this post

ByRONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer AP logo
10:24 AM GMT

Average MLB fastball velocity is up for 6th straight year to 94.7 mph

Major league pitchers are throwing harder than ever.

Four-seam fastballs averaged 94.7 mph through Saturday, up from 94.5 mph last year, 93.7 mph in 2021 and 91.9 mph when Major League Baseball first started tracking in 2008.

The average was 94.4 mph for the first half of 2025, and this year's final figure could increase by a tick.

Six pitchers are at 100 mph in average four-seam velocity led by a pair of relievers, the Athletics' Mason Miller (101.3 mph) and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Edgardo Henriquez (100.6 mph).