2 Cubs named National League All-Star starters and one finalist misses out

When the National and American League do battle at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 15, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker will have familiar faces by their sides, as both were named starters on Wednesday evening.

This is Tucker's fourth consecutive All-Star selection, with the previous three coming as a member of the Houston Astros. It is, however, his first time starting in the event. The Chicago right fielder hasn't missed a beat making the jump to a new organization, entering Wednesday night's game against Cleveland with a team-best .926 OPS. His presence has unlocked new levels of production of virtually everybody around him, including PCA.

Crow-Armstrong is headed to the Midsummer Classic for the first time - and it hardly comes as a surprise. The Cubs' outfielder has done it all this year, showcasing previously unknown power, playing elite defense in center field and being an absolute menace on the basepaths. He put together a 20-20 season faster than any player in Cubs history and has become must-see TV on a nightly basis.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker to rep the Cubs in the All-Star Game

He entered Wednesday leading all Cubs player in WAR, according to Baseball Reference, at 4.5 bWAR. Tucker was hot on his heels at 4.1 bWAR. Crow-Armstrong ranks fourth in the league, with Tucker coming in at seventh - a testament to just how good this duo has been for Chicago this year.

Carson Kelly came up short to Dodgers' backstop Will Smith in balloting for the NL starting gig behind the dish, but that's no knock against the year that he's had. After a dramatic cooldown following a hot start, he's showing signs of life again lately - a good sign for the Cubs' offense.

Circling back to Tucker and Crow-Armstrong. This is the first set of Cubs teammates to start the All-Star Game since Willson Contreras and Javier Baez back in 2019 - and the first Cubs' outfield duo to accomplish the feat since 1936. According to MLB.com, the last Cubs outfielder to play as an All-Star Game starter Kosuke Fukudome in 2008 (Dexter Fowler was voted into the NL starting lineup in 2016, but did not play in the game due to an injury).

Oddly enough, another Cubs' tie in the game comes in the form of Baez, who will start in the outfield for the American League. It's been a tremendous turnaround for El Mago, who's transformed from DFA candidate to Comeback Player of the Year contender, playing a critical role for the first-place Detroit Tigers.