Schwarber Leads Off All-Star Game at Home With a Blast Already on His Resume

Kyle Schwarber will be the first Phillie to take a swing at the All-Star Game. And he’ll do it in front of a crowd that already loves him.

National League manager Dave Roberts confirmed Schwarber will bat leadoff as the designated hitter when the Midsummer Classic lands at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Cristopher Sanchez gets the start on the mound for the NL. The announcement came via Kevin Barral of Fish on First, and the full lineup quickly made the rounds online.

Schwarber is hitting .254 with 32 home runs and 59 RBIs through 93 games this season. That home run total leads all of MLB. He has become the kind of power hitter pitchers dread seeing with runners on, and opposing staffs have no easy answer for him at the top of the order.

This isn’t his first All-Star rodeo either. Schwarber won the game’s MVP award in 2025 after hitting three home runs in a swing-off to secure a win for the National League. That performance cemented his reputation as a guy who shows up when the lights are brightest. Now he gets another chance to add to that legacy, this time with his own fans packing the stadium.

Phillies well represented in the NL lineup

Philadelphia sends five players to the All-Star Game total. Along with Schwarber and Sanchez, outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh. Bryce Harper is also on the roster. So are Jhoan Duran and Jesus Luzardo. That ties the Phillies with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most All-Star selections in the league this year.

Some of that is just math. Having the game at Citizens Bank Park probably helped a few Phillies get the nod over borderline candidates. But none of these guys are undeserving. Each one has played a real role in putting Philadelphia back in the playoff mix after a sluggish start to the season in some respects.

Marsh especially has been a steady presence in the outfield and at the plate. He’s batting seventh in the NL lineup, which says a lot about the depth of this roster.

This could be a momentum swing for Schwarber’s second half

The Phillies need their big guys to stay hot after the break. Schwarber has carried the offense for long stretches, and the team’s playoff hopes hinge on him keeping that going. Performing well in the All-Star Game in front of a home crowd might give him an extra jolt heading into August and September.

Fans at Citizens Bank will get to see him lead off, then sit back and watch how the rest of the National League lineup stacks up against the American League. It should be a good show.