Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Truist Park, and the Los Angeles Dodgers star will be followed in the batting order by left fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves.

Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte will hit third in the batting order announced Monday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, followed by Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman, San Diego third baseman Manny Machado, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes will start his second straight All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced last week. Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal will make his first All-Star start for the American League.

Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Tigers left fielder Riley Greene, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr,. Baltimore designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero, Tigers center fielder Javy Báez and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson.

Ohtani led off for the AL in the 2021 and 2022 All-Star Game. In 2021, he was also was the AL’s starting pitcher.

Skenes and Skubal are 1-2 in average four-seam fastball velocity among those with 1,500 or more pitches this season, Skenes at 98.2 mph and Skubal at 97.6 mph, according to MLB Statcast.

A 23-year-old right-hander, Skenes is 4-8 despite a major league-best 2.01 ERA for the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year has 131 strikeouts and 30 walks in 131 innings.

Skubal, a 28-year-old left-hander, is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. He is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA, striking out 153 and walking 16 in 121 innings.

Robot umps making debut at All-Star Game

MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 and will use it in an All-Star Game for the first time this summer. Each team gets two challenges and retains the challenge if it is successful.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred anticipates the system will be considered by the sport’s 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives.

M’s Raleigh joining Team USA for WBC

Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh agreed to play for the U.S. team at next year’s World Baseball Classic, joining captain Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr.

USA Baseball announced the decision before Raleigh participated in the All-Star Home Run Derby.

The 28-year-old is having a career season, entering the All-Star break leading the major leagues with 38 homers and 82 RBIs.

Rays owner agrees to sell team for $1.7B

The sale of the Tampa Bay Rays from Stuart Sternberg to a group led by Patrick Zalupski reached an agreement in principle and the deal could be completed as soon as September.

Zalupski, a Jacksonville-based developer, struck a deal with Sternberg to buy the Tampa Bay Rays for $1.7 billion, The Athletic reported.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred prefers keeping the team in Tampa Bay, in a new stadium to be built in the local area.

Clausen, Vucinovich picked in MLB Draft

The Gophers baseball team had two pitchers picked on the final day of the MLB Draft.

Incoming freshman Hayden Vucinovich was selected with the 245th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round, while senior Seth Clausen was selected with the 467th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies in the 16th round.