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The Detroit Tigers haven't performed up to expectations, but they will still be well represented at the Midsummer Classic.
Four Tigers will play for the American League at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The All-Star Game will take place a short drive away from the hometown of Tigers rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle, who was named to an All-Star team in his first MLB season.
McGonigle will be joined by catcher Dillon Dingler, left fielder Riley Greene and pitcher Justin Verlander, who marked his 10th All-Star nod as a "Legend's Pick." Greene was initially named as a reserve but will be starting along with Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger as replacements for reigning MVP Aaron Judge and Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton. McGonigle and Dingler were named as reserves, while Verlander will not be an active participant.
Watch the MLB All-Star Game on Fubo
This is Greene's third-straight All-Star selection (and second as a starter), with Greene becoming the first Tiger to go to three consecutive All-Star Games since Miguel Cabrera (seven straight from 2010-16). Dingler, who leads all MLB catchers in FanGraphs WAR (3.9), is a first-time All-Star.
Though the Tigers didn't match last year's output of six All-Stars (including four starters), Detroit has four All-Stars on the roster for just the second time in the last 11 years. Prior to 2025, the last Detroit team to feature four All-Stars was the 2015 team with Cabrera, shortstop José Iglesias, outfielder J.D. Martinez and pitcher David Price.
Here's what you need to know about the event, with highlights from Detroit's four honorees:
SEIDEL: Detroit Tigers have just two weeks to determine their fate for 2026
What a debut season it has been for McGonigle.
The first-year player entered the 2026 season as Detroit's top prospect and a consensus top-3 prospect in baseball after he ripped through the minors in 2025. Instead of waiting until later in the season to call up McGonigle (and potentially preserve an extra year of service time), the Tigers put him in the Opening Day lineup, where he went 4-for-5 with two doubles in his MLB debut.
It has been liftoff ever since at the plate for McGonigle, whose 4.0 FanGraphs WAR leads the Tigers and is sixth-best among all MLB hitters. The reason McGonigle isn't starting in the All-Star Game lies with Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whose 4.8 fWAR tops the American League and was voted in as the starter.
But with McGonigle slashing .283/.392/.420 over 413 plate appearances while bringing plus defense at shortstop and third base (plus 99th-percentile baserunning according to Statcast), it may not be long before he becomes an All-Star starter. He is just a rookie, after all.
Less than two years since his debut, Dingler has blossomed into the best catcher in baseball so far in 2026, leading all backstops with a 3.9 fWAR and already setting career highs in home runs (19) and RBIs (60). So while it may be understandable that McGonigle is not an All-Star starter, the same cannot be said for Dingler, who has played far above his competition (the Athletics' Shea Langeliers, this year's starter, has 2.2 fWAR, nearly half that of Dingler).
No matter how you parse it, Dingler's performance has been elite so far in 2026. With the bat, Dingler lands in the 96th percentile of all MLB batters in expected slugging percentage (.523), per Statcast. With the glove, he is in the 97th percentile in Fielding Run Value (8). And as a game-caller, he is guiding a starting rotation that is currently third in FIP (3.65) and fourth in ERA (3.50) among all MLB teams.
Though often overlooked as a minor-leaguer (he was Detroit's No. 14 prospect in 2024 before his debut), Dingler has become a franchise cornerstone, someone Tigers fans should look forward to watching for the next few years.
On the surface, 13 home runs and 45 RBIs from Detroit's corner outfield slugger doesn't look impressive compared to Greene's 36-homer, 111-RBI campaign in 2025. But a closer look shows Greene might be having his best season yet.
The lefty has cut down on the strikeouts, raised his walk rate to a career-high 12.8% (league average is 9%) and is on pace to set his career-high in hits. So even if the balls aren't flying out of the park as often for the three-time All-Star, Greene has never looked more comfortable at the plate, solidifying himself as a reliable middle-of-the-order presence with room to continue growing.
Voters did not select Greene as a starter, but with both Judge and Buxton not participating in the game, Greene grabbed Detroit's lone starting role in Philadelphia.
Verlander's 10th All-Star selection comes in spite of his 2026 season performance, where the 43-year-old has made only one start while dealing with a series of injuries. Commissioner Rob Manfred chose Verlander as a Legend's Pick for the 2026 game, joining the likes of Tigers great Miguel Cabrera in 2022 and Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw in 2025.
Verlander announced his plan to retire after the 2026 season shortly after his All-Star selection, and with the veteran still rehabbing from a hamstring strain, he won't make an appearance on the mound in Philadelphia. But this can still be a celebratory moment for the likely first-ballot Hall of Famer, one who is ending his storied career with the same team that drafted him No. 2 overall 22 years ago.
SP: Dylan Cease, TOR.
Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia will feature the AL All-Stars battling the NL All-Stars on Fox at 8 p.m. ET. Streaming is available on the Fox One App and Fubo, which carries Fox.
Watch the MLB All-Star Game on Fubo
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 MLB All-Star Game time, channel, as 4 Tigers head to Philadelphia
Continue reading...
Four Tigers will play for the American League at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The All-Star Game will take place a short drive away from the hometown of Tigers rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle, who was named to an All-Star team in his first MLB season.
McGonigle will be joined by catcher Dillon Dingler, left fielder Riley Greene and pitcher Justin Verlander, who marked his 10th All-Star nod as a "Legend's Pick." Greene was initially named as a reserve but will be starting along with Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger as replacements for reigning MVP Aaron Judge and Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton. McGonigle and Dingler were named as reserves, while Verlander will not be an active participant.
Watch the MLB All-Star Game on Fubo
This is Greene's third-straight All-Star selection (and second as a starter), with Greene becoming the first Tiger to go to three consecutive All-Star Games since Miguel Cabrera (seven straight from 2010-16). Dingler, who leads all MLB catchers in FanGraphs WAR (3.9), is a first-time All-Star.
Though the Tigers didn't match last year's output of six All-Stars (including four starters), Detroit has four All-Stars on the roster for just the second time in the last 11 years. Prior to 2025, the last Detroit team to feature four All-Stars was the 2015 team with Cabrera, shortstop José Iglesias, outfielder J.D. Martinez and pitcher David Price.
Here's what you need to know about the event, with highlights from Detroit's four honorees:
SEIDEL: Detroit Tigers have just two weeks to determine their fate for 2026
SS Kevin McGonigle's first All-Star nod
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What a debut season it has been for McGonigle.
The first-year player entered the 2026 season as Detroit's top prospect and a consensus top-3 prospect in baseball after he ripped through the minors in 2025. Instead of waiting until later in the season to call up McGonigle (and potentially preserve an extra year of service time), the Tigers put him in the Opening Day lineup, where he went 4-for-5 with two doubles in his MLB debut.
It has been liftoff ever since at the plate for McGonigle, whose 4.0 FanGraphs WAR leads the Tigers and is sixth-best among all MLB hitters. The reason McGonigle isn't starting in the All-Star Game lies with Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whose 4.8 fWAR tops the American League and was voted in as the starter.
But with McGonigle slashing .283/.392/.420 over 413 plate appearances while bringing plus defense at shortstop and third base (plus 99th-percentile baserunning according to Statcast), it may not be long before he becomes an All-Star starter. He is just a rookie, after all.
C Dillon Dingler gets first All-Star nod. Should he be the starter?
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Less than two years since his debut, Dingler has blossomed into the best catcher in baseball so far in 2026, leading all backstops with a 3.9 fWAR and already setting career highs in home runs (19) and RBIs (60). So while it may be understandable that McGonigle is not an All-Star starter, the same cannot be said for Dingler, who has played far above his competition (the Athletics' Shea Langeliers, this year's starter, has 2.2 fWAR, nearly half that of Dingler).
No matter how you parse it, Dingler's performance has been elite so far in 2026. With the bat, Dingler lands in the 96th percentile of all MLB batters in expected slugging percentage (.523), per Statcast. With the glove, he is in the 97th percentile in Fielding Run Value (8). And as a game-caller, he is guiding a starting rotation that is currently third in FIP (3.65) and fourth in ERA (3.50) among all MLB teams.
Though often overlooked as a minor-leaguer (he was Detroit's No. 14 prospect in 2024 before his debut), Dingler has become a franchise cornerstone, someone Tigers fans should look forward to watching for the next few years.
LF Riley Greene makes it three straight All-Star Games
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On the surface, 13 home runs and 45 RBIs from Detroit's corner outfield slugger doesn't look impressive compared to Greene's 36-homer, 111-RBI campaign in 2025. But a closer look shows Greene might be having his best season yet.
The lefty has cut down on the strikeouts, raised his walk rate to a career-high 12.8% (league average is 9%) and is on pace to set his career-high in hits. So even if the balls aren't flying out of the park as often for the three-time All-Star, Greene has never looked more comfortable at the plate, solidifying himself as a reliable middle-of-the-order presence with room to continue growing.
Voters did not select Greene as a starter, but with both Judge and Buxton not participating in the game, Greene grabbed Detroit's lone starting role in Philadelphia.
SP Justin Verlander heads to All-Star game one final time
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Verlander's 10th All-Star selection comes in spite of his 2026 season performance, where the 43-year-old has made only one start while dealing with a series of injuries. Commissioner Rob Manfred chose Verlander as a Legend's Pick for the 2026 game, joining the likes of Tigers great Miguel Cabrera in 2022 and Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw in 2025.
Verlander announced his plan to retire after the 2026 season shortly after his All-Star selection, and with the veteran still rehabbing from a hamstring strain, he won't make an appearance on the mound in Philadelphia. But this can still be a celebratory moment for the likely first-ballot Hall of Famer, one who is ending his storied career with the same team that drafted him No. 2 overall 22 years ago.
AL lineup for 2026 MLB All-Star Game
- CF Mike Trout, LAA.
- DH Yordan Alvarez, HOU.
- C Shea Langeliers, ATH.
- 3B Junior Caminero, TBR.
- SS Bobby Witt Jr., KCR.
- RF Cody Bellinger, NYY.
- 1B Ben Rice, NYY.
- LF Riley Greene, DET.
- 2B Ernie Clement, TOR.
SP: Dylan Cease, TOR.
2026 MLB All-Star Game time and channel
- Date: Tuesday, July 14.
- Time: 8 p.m. ET.
- Channel: Fox.
- Streaming: Fox One, Fubo.
- Radio: ESPN Radio.
Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia will feature the AL All-Stars battling the NL All-Stars on Fox at 8 p.m. ET. Streaming is available on the Fox One App and Fubo, which carries Fox.
Watch the MLB All-Star Game on Fubo
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 MLB All-Star Game time, channel, as 4 Tigers head to Philadelphia
Continue reading...
