If You Could Only Pick One: National League

By Joey Figueroa on June 30, 2014

[Photo Credit: Brandon Steiner]

Nearing the end of June, the MLB season is about halfway played out, and the league’s best players are settling into their mid-season forms. The 2014 MLB All-Star game is just a few weeks away now, and one of the great things about baseball’s showcase of the best and brightest is that all 30 must be represented. This doesn’t mean that certain teams won’t have more representatives than others, but it’s nice that the MLB wants to spread the love.

But what if each team could only send one representative to the all-star game? With that question in mind, I took a look at every National League (for now) roster and decided which one player has had the finest, most all-star worthy season thus far.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt

Mid-season stats: .298 AVG, 15 HR, 53 RBI, .386 OBP, .532 SLG, .918 OPS

This wasn’t a very tough choice, as Goldy has been holding steady on one of the worst teams in the league. The 2013 NL MVP runner-up is on pace for another 30 homer-100 RBI season while hitting near .300. He’s also leading the league with his 28 doubles and even has seven stolen bases just for good measure.

Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran 

Mid-season stats: 7-5, 2.34 ERA, 103 K, 0.95 WHIP

On a team with a lineup full of studs, Julio Teheran has managed to shine brightest on the NL East-leading Braves this year. The second-year starter has reduced his ERA almost a full point from last season and is keeping opposing lineups under one hit or walk per inning. It looks like Atlanta has found itself an ace.

Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo

Mid-season stats: .282 AVG, 17 HR, 44 RBI, .394 OBP, .512 SLG, .906 OPS

Even though they’re once again one of the worst clubs in the league, the Cubs have more than a few players deserving an all-star nod this season. Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel and Starlin Castro are all having career years, but no one has shown more improvement on the Cubbies than the big fella at first base: Anthony Rizzo.

He’s hitting a full fifty points better than last season, with an on-base percentage near .400 and 17 homers which is good for third-most in the league. Rizzo is finally looking like the big bat the Cubs have been hoping to build around.

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto

 Mid-season stats: 8-5, 1.88 ERA, 122 K, 0.84 WHIP

The Reds are another underachieving team with a solid group of all-star candidates including the breakout campaigns for battery mates, Alfredo Simon and Devin Mesoraco. However, Johnny Cueto is having a Cy Young-caliber season, putting his teammates to shame. The Dominican ace is leading the league in multiple pitching categories, including ERA, innings pitched, and walks/hits allowed per inning, and could be a strong favorite to start this year’s all-star game.

Colorado Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki

Mid-season stats: .353 AVG, 18 HR, 46 RBI, .445 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.062 OPS

The Rockies boast one of the deepest lineups in the majors, and at the heart of that lineup is shortstop extraordinaire, Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo is enjoying the finest hitting season of his young career, and is putting up some of the best and most mind-boggling numbers in baseball right now. He’s leading the league in all four major hitting categories (AVG, OBP, .618, 1.062), as well as runs scored with 61. On top of all of that, he’s also one of the best at his position, with just four errors on the year. The sky’s the limit for this kid in the mile-high city.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw

Mid-season stats: 8-2, 2.24, 94 K, 0.94 WHIP

The Dodgers will undoubtedly have multiple all-stars this year, with veteran pitcher Zach Greinke and Josh Beckett gaining their old forms, and young guns Dee Gordon and Yasiel Puig running all over the bases. But one player reigns supreme in L.A. right now and that’s Clayton Kershaw.

In just 11 starts, the big lefty already has wins, one of those being his masterful no-hitter earlier this month. He’s averaging almost 12 strikeouts per 9 innings, which speaks to his absolute dominance that should be a fixture in the MLB for a long time.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton

Mid-season stats: .313 AVG, 21 HR, 60 RBI, .408 OBP, .590, .999 OPS

The artist formerly known as Mike Stanton is the obvious star of this young Marlins squad that has somewhat overachieved so far this season. The 6-foot-6 right fielder is an opposing force with the bat in his hands, as he leads the NL in home runs, runs batted in, total bases. He even leads the league in intentional walks, which attributes to how much fear he strikes into the hearts of pitchers around the league.

Milwaukee Brewers: Carlos Gomez

Mid-season stats: .310 AVG, 13 HR, 44 RBI, .375 OBP, .525 SLG, .900 OPS

The Brewers have pleasantly surprised us as one of the best teams in the NL this season, and they have a lineup full of potential all-stars. Their speedy and powerful center-fielder, Carlos Gomez, may be the biggest factor to their recent turnaround, as he’s righted Milwaukee’s record along with his career.

Gomez is on pace for his second straight season in the 20-20 club, as he’s one of just three players in the league with double digits in home runs and stolen bases (per Bleacher Report). The Brewers may have plenty of talent, but I believe their postseason success rides on Gomez’ bat and legs.

New York Mets: Jon Niese

Mid-season stats: 5-4, 2.88 ERA, 74 K, 1.19 WHIP

While some teams have too much talent to choose from, the Mets have the opposite issue. Looking at the production up and down their roster, it’s clear why the Mets are near the bottom of the NL standings. But still, Jon Niese is having a very solid season in New York and deserves recognition amongst the poor players around him. The lefty has been quietly putting up solid numbers in the Big Apple the past few seasons and is on pace for his first 200 inning campaign, as well as a possible all-star nod.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jonathan Papelbon

Mid-season stats: 2-1, 1.39 ERA, 18/20 SV, 28 K, 0.93 WHIP

The Phillies have a strange combination of veterans riding out their long contracts and young prospects finding their paths in the majors. One of those veterans is former Red Sox stud reliever, Jonathan Papelbon, who is having a very nice season as the Phillies’ closer. His ERA is well under 2.00, he’s only blown two save opportunities, and has been one of the few constants on this 2014 Phillies roster. That’s about all you could ask for out of a closer near the twilight of his career.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen

Mid-season stats: .314 AVG, 12 HR, 48 RBI, .418 OBP, .525 SLG, .943 OPS

Andrew McCutchen won’t be relinquishing his title as the Pirates’ best player for awhile, and he’s on pace to have the same amount of production as he did in his 2013 MVP season. McCutchen is one of those few players who currently has double digit home runs and stolen bases, leads the league in walks, and has yet to be caught stealing this season. As one of the bright, young faces of the MLB, don’t expect McCutchen to be missing any all-star games in the near future.

San Diego Padres: Huston Street

Mid-season stats: 1-0, 0.93 ERA, 21/21 SV, 31 K, 0.76 WHIP

The Padres are at the absolute bottom of the league because of their abysmal hitting, as no player has more than 25 runs batted in at the halfway mark of the season. One of their lone bright spots has been closer Huston Street, who has been lights out all season. Street has yet to blow a save opportunity, averages over nine strikeouts per inning, and has given up a mere three runs all year. He’ll be a no-brainer to represent San Diego in the all-star game.

San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner

Mid-season stats: 9-5, 2.90 ERA, 114 K, 1.17 WHIP

The Giants have been at the top of the league all season and that’s due to timely hitting throughout their lineup and solid pitching. This was a tough choice between Bumgarner and his battery mate, Buster Posey, but Bumgarner has solidified himself as one of the aces of the next generation and should receive his second straight all-star nod this year.

St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright

Mid-season stats: 10-4, 2.01 ERA, 105 K, 0.90 WHIP

Adam Wainwright has been a model of consistency in St. Louis for over half a decade, and he could be on his way to his first career Cy Young award with his performance so far this season. The 6-foot-7 righty is currently leading the league in wins, complete games, and home runs per 9 innings, and is second in the NL in ERA. He’s a shoe-in for the all-star game, and he’s my pick to end up with some end-of-the-year hardware for his pitching prowess.

Washington Nationals: Adam LaRoche

Mid-season stats: .308 AVG, 11 HR, 43 RBI, .417 OBP, .500 SLG, .917 OPS

He may not actually make the all-star game because of how talented the first base position is in the league, but Adam LaRoche has been the most consistent hitter in the nation’s capital this season. The big lefty has been great for the Nats, as he’s on pace to set career highs in batting average and on-base percentage. LaRoche may not be part of the future plans in Washington, but as of right now, he’s their best hitter and is filling the hole that the injured Bryce Harper has left in the lineup.

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