Dodgers' Freddie Freeman predicted to be All-Star snub due to two NL East players

There's no denying that Freddie Freeman is one of the best hitters and most clutch players in all of Major League Baseball, even at his advanced age of 36 this season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar and future Hall of Famer is once again having a solid season. His .280 batting average and .838 OPS marks are some of the best among all first basemen this season.

However, The Athletic's Jim Bowden predicted that Freeman wouldn't make the NL All-Star team, as he'd be a major snub thanks to two National League East first basemen.

Freddie Freeman predicted to miss All-Star nod thanks to 2 NL East 1B

"Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves (starter)," Bowden predicted. "... A Philadelphia hometown favorite, Harper edges out Reds rookie Sal Stewart and the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman for the backup role."

This prediction from Bowden has Freeman missing out on the All-Star Game nod, with Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies and Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves earning the first base representative spots for the NL team this year.

Looking at their statistical comparisons, there is unfortunately some sound reasoning behind why both Harper and Olson deserve the All-Star nod over Freeman.

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Going by OPS, Olson's .877 and Harper's .875 are well ahead of Freeman's .838. Olson has 17 homers, Harper has 14, and Freeman has 10.

While Freeman's .280 average is better than both Harper's (.265) and Olson's (.267), Olson's power is much better, and Harper's on-base percentage is .368, just ahead of Freeman at .361.

With Olson likely the frontrunner for the starting job, and the All-Star Game happening in Philadelphia, Harper's production and fit make him a more likely All-Star representative than Freeman this season.

Even if Freeman is snubbed from the All-Star roster this season, he could get a nod as a bench option depending on how the rest of the roster shapes out. But, strictly looking at first base, if there are only two All-Stars, it's likely Harper and Olson, not Freeman.

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