If you’ve been betting on the National League to win the Midsummer Classic over the last decade, I hope you have a very understanding bank account. Honestly, for a long time, it felt like the Senior Circuit simply forgot how to win. But things have changed.
The MLB All-Star Game results last 10 years tell a story of a lopsided rivalry that finally found its footing again in 2023 and 2025. It’s been a wild ride of extra innings, home run "swing-offs," and a lot of Mike Trout.
Let's get into the dirt.
The American League’s Iron Grip (2015-2022)
For a solid stretch, the American League (AL) was basically a buzzsaw. They won seven games in a row starting in 2015. It wasn't just that they had better players—the NL has plenty of stars—but the AL just seemed to find the big hit when it mattered.
Take 2015 in Cincinnati. Mike Trout led off the game with a home run off Zack Greinke. Talk about a statement. The AL won 6-3, and Trout became the first player ever to win back-to-back All-Star MVPs.
The next few years were more of the same.
- 2016 (San Diego): AL wins 4-2. Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez, both from that gritty Royals championship core, homered in the same inning.
- 2017 (Miami): AL wins 2-1. This was a pitcher's duel that went into the 10th inning before Robinson Canó crushed a lead-off homer to win it.
- 2018 (Washington D.C.): AL wins 8-6. A total slugfest. Ten home runs were hit in this game, which is still a record. Alex Bregman took home the hardware after a 10th-inning blast.
By the time 2019 rolled around in Cleveland, people were starting to wonder if the NL would ever win again. Shane Bieber struck out the side in his home stadium, the AL won 4-3, and the "curse" continued.
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Then came 2020. No game. COVID-19 shut the world down, including the All-Star festivities. When we came back in 2021 at Coors Field, the scenery changed but the result didn't. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a moonshot, and the AL coasted to a 5-2 win.
Giancarlo Stanton kept the streak alive in 2022 at Dodger Stadium with a 457-foot bomb. At that point, the AL had won nine straight. It was getting a bit ridiculous.
The Tide Turns: 2023 and the 2025 Swing-Off
Everything flipped in Seattle in 2023.
The NL was down 2-1 in the eighth inning. It felt like "here we go again." Then, Elias Díaz—a catcher for the Rockies who many fans barely knew—hit a two-run homer. The NL held on to win 3-2. It was their first win since 2012.
The AL took one back in 2024 at Globe Life Field (5-3), thanks to a Jarren Duran home run, but the most insane game of the decade happened just last year in 2025.
The Historic 2025 MLB All-Star Game
This game at Truist Park in Atlanta was unlike anything we've ever seen. The score was knotted at 6-6 after nine innings. Under the new rules designed to protect pitchers' arms, we didn't go to the 10th.
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We went to a Home Run Swing-off.
It’s basically a mini Home Run Derby to decide the winner. Kyle Schwarber stepped up for the NL and went 3-for-3 on his swings. The "Schwarbarian" basically carried the league on his back. The NL won the tiebreaker 4-3 (making the official score 7-6) and claimed only their second win in 12 tries.
Breaking Down the MLB All-Star Game results last 10 years
If you look at the raw numbers, the American League is still the king of this era, but the gap is closing in terms of competitiveness.
| Year | Winner | Score | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | National | 7-6 (Swing-off) | Kyle Schwarber (PHI) |
| 2024 | American | 5-3 | Jarren Duran (BOS) |
| 2023 | National | 3-2 | Elias Díaz (COL) |
| 2022 | American | 3-2 | Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) |
| 2021 | American | 5-2 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) |
| 2019 | American | 4-3 | Shane Bieber (CLE) |
| 2018 | American | 8-6 (10 inn) | Alex Bregman (HOU) |
| 2017 | American | 2-1 (10 inn) | Robinson Canó (SEA) |
| 2016 | American | 4-2 | Eric Hosmer (KC) |
| 2015 | American | 6-3 | Mike Trout (LAA) |
Why the AL Dominated for So Long
Experts argue about this all the time. Is it the DH? Well, both leagues have the DH now, so that's out the window. Is it just luck?
Some people, like John Smoltz, have mentioned that the AL seemed to take the "exhibition" aspect slightly more seriously for a while, especially when the game determined home-field advantage in the World Series (a rule that thankfully ended after 2016).
The NL's recent success suggests the talent gap—if it ever existed—has evaporated. With guys like Shohei Ohtani (now in the NL), Mookie Betts, and Ronald Acuña Jr. leading the charge, the National League isn't the "little brother" anymore.
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What This Means for Your Future Viewing
If you're watching the All-Star game today, don't expect a blowout. The trend over the last decade has moved toward tight, low-scoring games defined by elite pitching, punctuated by the occasional 2018-style home run derby.
The introduction of the "Swing-off" in 2025 changed the strategy too. Managers now have to save a few "power bats" just in case the game ends in a tie. It’s no longer just about getting everyone an inning in the field; it’s about having a closer and a derby specialist ready for the ninth.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the late innings: Since 2017, four games have either gone to extra innings or been decided in the final two frames. The early innings are for the starters, but the drama happens with the "replacement" stars.
- Keep an eye on the "Swing-off" potential: If the game is tied in the 8th, start looking at who the managers have left on the bench. The 2025 results proved that a DH like Schwarber is more valuable in a tie than a defensive replacement.
- Track the MVP trends: Outfielders have won the MVP in 5 of the last 10 games. If you're looking for the star of the night, look to the grass.
The MLB All-Star Game results last 10 years prove that while the AL had the decade of their lives, the NL has finally figured out how to fight back. Whether you love the new tiebreaker rules or hate them, you can't deny that the Midsummer Classic has gotten its pulse back.
To keep track of the upcoming rosters and see if the National League can start a winning streak of its own, check the official MLB All-Star site for live voting updates and pitch counts.
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