Now that the Major League Baseball All-Star Game rosters are set — barring injury or other replacements — it’s a good time to look at how the teams stack up on paper. Does one team have an edge based on talent? Let’s break it down position by position:

Pitching

We won’t bother breaking them into starters and relievers since no pitcher will see significant action.

I can’t believe I am writing this, but R.A. Dickey has been the best pitcher in baseball this year. You could make a decent argument that Johnny Cueto has been the second most effective of those on the roster as well. Justin Verlander and Matt Cain would duke it out for the show spot form the long list of arms. All in all the National League is both heavier up top and much deeper as well. The balance of pitching power seems to move back and forth between the leagues, and right now the NL is the dominant one.

Edge: National League

Catcher

The voters did a terrible job here. Buster Posey probably shouldn’t be starting, and Mike Napoli has no business being in the game, never mind as the starter. Philadelphia’s Carlos Ruiz has been the best catcher in baseball this year, and Yadier Molina has been strong as well. Both those guys play in the NL, and both will play even if they don’t start.

Edge: National League

First base

This is absolutely no contest. Joey Votto has been brilliant all year, and is crushing the competition at first.

Edge: National League

Second base

Aaron Hill hit for the cycle twice in two weeks and is generally hitting very well, yet he’s not in the lineup. A shame. In his place are Dan Uggla and Jose Altuve. Neither can come close to matching Robinson Cano — a legitimate MVP candidate.

Edge: American League

Shortstop

Jeter wouldn’t likely be here if he wasn’t a starter, but the AL took two reserves — Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera — and they have been the two best shortstops in the league this year. NL starter Rafael Furcal shouldn’t be starting, either, so Jeter isn’t alone.

Edge: American League

Third base

This one is close. Pablo Sandoval doesn’t deserve to be the NL starter — or on the team for that matter — but reserve David Wright is an MVP candidate and clearly the best third baseman in baseball by a wide margin this year, and David Freese, the last man added to the NL roster, has been more than solid. AL reserve Miguel Cabrera and starter Adrian Beltre are the second and third best at the position.

Edge: Draw

Outfield

Josh Hamilton and Jose Bautista, AL starters, are no brainers and Adam Jones and the Angels duo of Trout and Trumbo got the recognition they deserved. I wouldn’t have Curtis Granderson on my team, but he’s been solid. I’m not nearly as impressed with the NL starters of Kemp, Beltran and Cabrera, but the surprising Andrew McCutchen has arguably been the best outfielder in the league over the whole season to date, and Ryan Braun has been very good as well. The NL has a defensive edge as well.

Edge: Draw

Designated hitter

You can’t do a comparison here, of course, since the NL doesn’t designate a DH on their roster. Mostly I just mentioned it to complain about a horrible decision. David Ortiz is starting, and is a no-brainer. The choice of Adam Dunn over Edwin Encarnacion as a reserve, though, is so stupid as to be insulting.

Overall

The National League has a 3-2 advantage in the tally with two positions too close to call. If I had to pick a side in the outfield and at third then I would lean to the NL in both, though. That means that, on paper, the National League has a pretty solid edge heading into this game. They have a two-game winning streak to defend and an overall advantage in the series, so that edge seems to make sense.

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