2013 MLB All-Star Game Roster and Prediction: Mariano Rivera's Farewell Party

The 2013 MLB All-Star Game is just around the corner. With all of baseball's top guns preparing to showcase their stuff in Queens, New York, there's no better way to celebrate a great American summer than watching the showdown between the American League and National League All-Stars.

The New York Mets will host this year's mid-summer classic for the first time since Shea Field hosted the event during the team's inaugural season in 1964.

However, it will be the ninth time the city of New York will host the All-Star game, the last of which was a 15-inning classic at the old Yankees Stadium in 2008.

On July 16, big time baseball will be back in the Big Apple and it's going to be a powerhouse gathering of veterans and up-and-coming stars all in one amazing night.

Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis is the top vote getter for this year's All-Star balloting, garnering a total of 8,272,243 votes as the starting first baseman for the American League. On the other hand, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina collected the highest vote tally for the National League All-Stars with 6,883,258 ballots.

The last All-Star spot for each league will be determined at the end of the final vote on Thursday. So far, it's really looking to be a lock for Los Angeles Dodgers super rookie Yasiel Puig in the National League while the race for the remaining All-Star berth in the American League is still wide-open as five solid pitchers try to book a ticket to New York next week.

Prediction: National League vs. American League

With a collection of steady veteran hitters and several surefire Hall of Fame hurlers, the American League All-Stars has a considerable edge in experience over the National League team, which has 17 first timers and possibly 18, if Puig makes the cut on Thursday.

Unlike what happened at the old Yankee Stadium five years ago, this match will be a high-scoring ballgame with lots of homers and dazzling offensive plays.  It will also feature a face-off between two of the most prolific batters in the game Mr. Triple Crown Miguel Cabrera and former NL MVP Joey Votto.

Of course, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper will have another chance to prove they really are the future faces of the league in their second All-Star appearance, but the story of the night will belong to retiring New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who will make his 13^th and final All-Star game.

So who are this year's participants? Here they are.

American League All-Stars

Starters
C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Chris Davis, Orioles
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS: J.J. Hardy, Orioles
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Pitchers
RHP: Clay Buchholz *, Red Sox
LHP: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays
RHP: Bartolo Colon @, A's
RHP: Jesse Crain *, White Sox
RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
RHP: Justin Masterson, Indians
RHP: Joe Nathan, Rangers
LHP: Glen Perkins @, Twins
RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Max Scherzer, Tigers
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers

Reserves
C: Jason Castro, Astros
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Prince Fielder, Tigers
2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2B: Ben Zobrist, Rays
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Tigers
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
OF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
OF: Torii Hunter, Tigers
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

National League All-Stars

Starters

C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3B: David Wright, Mets
OF: Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals

Pitchers
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
LHP: Patrick Corbin, D-backs
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Jason Grilli, Pirates
RHP: Matt Harvey, Mets
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies
LHP: Jeff Locke, Pirates
RHP: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
LHP: Travis Wood, Cubs
RHP: Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals

Reserves
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Allen Craig, Cardinals
2B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
2B: Marco Scutaro, Giants
SS: Everth Cabrera, Padres
SS: Jean Segura, Brewers
3B: Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
OF: Domonic Brown, Phillies
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
OF: Carlos Gomez, Brewers
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates