Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani predicted to be starter at only one position for NL All-Star Game

The National League's All-Star team is going to have some incredibly tough decisions. While the first base, second base, and outfield spots are going to have a lot of deserving challengers, there are only two realistic suitors for the designated hitter spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and Philadelphia Phillies fan favorite Kyle Schwarber are the two who should be the DH options for the NL All-Stars this year. And Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez is Ohtani's top competition for the starting pitching spot.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic shared his prediction for the All-Star roster, including who is the starter for the NL All-Stars at DH and pitcher. Fortunately for Ohtani, despite losing out on the starter's job as a pitcher, Bowden predicts he'll be the starting DH.

Shohei Ohtani predicted to start at DH, not pitcher, for All-Star Game

"Ohtani makes the All-Star team as a two-way player, counting as one of the NL's 20 position players but not counting against their 12-pitcher limit," Bowden predicts. "... Still, expect to see him in both roles in the All-Star Game."

Bowden listed Ohtani first before Schwarber for the NL All-Stars at DH, but specifically noted that Sanchez would be the starter for the NL All-Stars this season.

"If he continues to pitch as he has so far this season, he'll be the popular pick to throw the first All-Star pitch at his home park," Bowden writes. "Jacob Misiorowski and Ohtani will also be under strong consideration for the honor."

Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers and Sanchez with the Phillies are likely just ahead of Ohtani for the NL All-Star representative and in the NL Cy Young conversation.

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He just doesn't have enough innings pitched, even with his incredible 0.74 ERA this season. He either needs to go deeper in games or start pitching more often to catch up to Sanchez and Misiorowski in both competitions.

However, Bowden does predict that Ohtani will make the All-Star team and act as the starting DH for the NL All-Stars over Schwarber, despite the All-Star Game happening in Philadelphia.

Ohtani has a .939 OPS this season as a hitter, which is just ahead of Schwarber's .937. Even though Schwarber is leading MLB with 23 homers, a lot more than Ohtani's 11, Ohtani's .302 batting average and overall production give him the slight edge.

It's hard to imagine that, if Ohtani keeps this up, he won't at least be the starting DH or the starting pitcher for the NL All-Star team. Though Schwarber and Sanchez may earn those spots if they significantly outperform Ohtani from now until mid-July.

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