Kyle Schwarber to bat leadoff as DH for NL in All-Star Game, replacing Shohei Ohtani

The National League will be getting a little more star power right at the top of the lineup for the All-Star Game.

After it was announced on Friday afternoon that Shohei Ohtani would be ruled out of Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Kyle Schwarber will be taking his place as the starting designated hitter. Schwarber will lead off for Dave Roberts‘ team. Ohtani originally received a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup after winning the fan vote at the end of June.

Ohtani was scratched from his start on Friday due to irritation in his left knee, and the Dodgers announced that he would miss the festivities in Philadelphia ahead of the Midsummer Classic.

But for the Phillies, it gives the crowd at Citizens Bank Park a little something extra to cheer about. Schwarber was voted in as a reserve on Saturday night and actually won the players’ vote over Ohtani.

Schwarber is one of the most dangerous hitters in all of baseball and is well deserving of a starting spot in the National League. He continues to mash baseballs and is leading all of baseball in home runs with 32. After hitting a career-high 56 home runs last season, he looks to break that record again. Meanwhile, Ohtani is slashing .290/.405/.534 with 20 home runs and six stolen bases while going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts.

This will be Schwarber’s first time starting for the National League as a Phillie. This will be his third appearance as an All-Star with the Phils, and he is the reigning All-Star Game MVP after helping the National League to victory via swing-off in Atlanta in 2025.

His ovation could be much louder as well. On Friday afternoon, he announced he would participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday night, with his teammate, Bryce Harper. If he manages to win the derby, it will be another amazing ovation for the lefty slugger.

For the NL, swapping in Schwarber at DH keeps the lineup packed with elite offense, which will include his teammate, Brandon Marsh, who will bat seventh. Harper will also be a reserve at first base later in the game.

Here are the lineups for both the American and National League:

AL:

Mike Trout (LAA), CF
Yordan Alvarez (HOU), DH
Shea Langeliers (ATH), C
Junior Caminero (TB), 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), SS
Cody Bellinger (NYY), RF
Ben Rice (NYY), 1B
Riley Greene (DET), LF
Ernie Clement (TOR), 2B
Dylan Cease (TOR), SP

NL:

Kyle Schwarber (PHI), DH
Juan Soto (NYM), LF
Freddie Freeman (LAD), 1B
CJ Abrams (WSH), SS
Max Muncy (LAD), 3B
Ozzie Albies (ATL), 2B
Brandon Marsh (PHI), RF
Andy Pages (LAD), CF
Drake Baldwin (ATL), C
Cristopher Sanchez (PHI), SP

Andrew Glover

Andrew is in his first year covering sports for Philly Sports Reports. He is a podcaster and a digital content creator. Right now, he is in his second semester at Temple University pursuing a degree in Media Studies and Production. He has a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

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