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All-Star Game in Philly: Red carpet on Independence Mall kicks off festivities; Schwarber to lead off; road closures, more

Kyle Schwarber is one of six Phillies players on the National League roster tonight.

Workers put the finishing touches on the 2026 MLB All-Star red carpet event on Independence Mall.
Workers put the finishing touches on the 2026 MLB All-Star red carpet event on Independence Mall.Read more
Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
What you should know

  1. The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will take place at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly. Here's how to watch and stream.

  2. The Phillies have three starters and six players on the National League team, including Kyle Schwarber, who nearly won the Home Run Derby Monday night.

  3. Zack Wheeler turned down MLB’s offer to be added to the All-Star Game: "I’m not going to be disrespected"

  4. While the Phillies are well-represented, some of MLB's biggest stars are missing from the game.

  5. The Phillies will resume play Thursday against the New York Mets Thursday at Citizens Bank Park (7:10 p.m., ESPN).

Fans arrive on Independence Mall ahead off red carpet

Farr: Stop whining about the boos at the Home Run Derby

I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans today for booing every baseball player but their own two during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park Monday night.

To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.

I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.

Bryce Harper's SEPTA-themed All-Star Game cleats arrived in a train car

All-Star Game in Philly: Here's how to watch and stream

The Phillies will be well-represented in tonight's MLB All-Star Game (8 p.m., Fox), which is back on Fox for the 26th straight year.

Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League, and two Phillies players will be in the starting lineup — Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. Bryce Harper, Jesús Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran are also on the National League squad.

Calling the game is Fox’s World Series crew — play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will report from Citizens Bank Park.

All-Star Game lineups: Kyle Schwarber will lead off for National League

The starting lineups for Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game were revealed by the teams' respective managers Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

The lineup behind Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, who gets the start on the mound for the National League, will begin with his Phillies teammate, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh for Dave Roberts' NL squad.

Here's a look at the full order:

  1. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies

  2. Juan Soto, LF, Mets

  3. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers

  4. CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals

  5. Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers

  6. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves

  7. Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies

  8. Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers

  9. Drake Baldwin, C, Braves

Some of MLB's biggest stars are missing from this year's All-Star Game

The best player in Major League Baseball — a player who can make a claim to being the greatest baseball player ever — will not play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.

The best player on the most popular team in Major League Baseball — a player who hit at least 53 home runs in three of the previous four seasons and is among the most recognizable figures in the sport — will not play either.

And the best pitcher for the franchise that is hosting the game — a pitcher who can make a claim to being the best starter in the majors for the last several years — wasn’t initially selected to be an All-Star, then was, then rejected the invitation.

Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker

Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.

Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.

And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.

Philly road closures due to tonight's All-Star Game

Independence Mall will see road closures in place from 5 a.m. to midnight Tuesday due to the MLB Red Carper show, which begins at 2 p.m.

Those closures will affect:

  1. Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets

  2. Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets

  3. Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth Street to Seventh Streets

Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.