Predicting Chicago Cubs All-Star Representatives in the 2023 All-Star Game

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Breaking down the list, I quickly realized that if more than one Chicago Cubs player was going to be made an All-Star, It's safe to say that any of those players would most likely be pitchers. The Cubs have many position players in that "almost fringe, not quite there" type of guys in terms of production needed to be an All-Star. As it sits, no Cubs lead anywhere close in the fan-voting section.

Still, the Cubs are alive in the standings due to the strength of their pitching. At only two games under .500, there are a lot of winnable baseball games left if the offense can pick up and have a piece or two added to it by the trade deadline. Nevertheless, many pitchers deserve the nod, and some of these guys will need a bit of luck to be picked as a reserve. Here are three pitchers from the Chicago Cubs that deserve an All-Star appearance this season.

Predicting Cubs All-Stars - Marcus Stroman

Without a doubt, the most obvious choice to head to Seattle for the Chicago Cubs will be Marcus Stroman. Currently leading the NL with a 2.28 ERA throughout 98.2 innings of work, it would be outrageous if Stroman didn't make it as a starter for the NL team. Stroman currently leads the National League in ERA and quality starts and is tied for first with nine wins. Consider Stroman a lock to be named to his second All-Star appearance.

According to Baseball Reference, Stroman currently has 4.0 WAR, which sits 1st place in all of baseball among qualified starting pitchers. He is on pace to surpass 200.0 innings for the third time in his career, and it's a no-brainer that he will be representing the Chicago Cubs in the All-Star Game this season.

Predicting Cubs All-Stars - 2. Justin Steele

Sitting with a 2.71 ERA and a record of 7-2, Justin Steele has spent nearly the last calendar year having an absurd stretch of baseball. Going back to the second half of the 2022 season, Steele broke out in the second half after allowing only four earned runs over 36.2 frames, suitable for a 0.96 ERA. Adding that to this season, he has an accumulative 2.13 ERA in his last 109.2 frames, going back to last year's second half.

Still, Steele's presence on the mound and 2.1 WAR (according to Fangraphs) puts him tied for 4th place in the National League among starting pitching in the National League. That metric alone should make him worthy of being called a first-time All-Star, at least as a reserve. Granted, Steele has been one of the more slept-on pitchers in all of baseball, and he is relatively new to being in the upper echelon of pitching. His body of work this past year speaks for itself, and he is a solidified front-end starter on any team.

Predicting Cubs All-Stars - Adbert Alzolay

Sticking with the pitching side of things, which has been the bread and butter of the Cubs' success this season, we land on newly appointed Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay. Though he doesn't have the saves yet to back it up, he certainly has the rest of the numbers. His 33 innings of 1.91 ERA ball have him currently one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, let alone for the Cubs by a pretty wide margin. Mark Leiter Jr. is the next-best reliever on the Cubs, with a mark of 2.59.

Alzolay only recently earned the role of closer for the Cubs, but he has made the most of his opportunity, recording four saves and not allowing a run in his last 9.1 IP or nine appearances. Alzolay still has time to lower those numbers before rosters are released for the ASG. With Stroman seemingly a lock, Steele and Alzolay have the numbers to support making it as first-time All-Stars.

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