What happened: NL All-Star manager Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles coaching personnel granted reporter Katie Woo access during their planning sessions for the midsummer exhibition. The Athletic's feature examines the organizational workflow behind assembling pitching rotations, scheduling defensive substitutions, and managing workload limits across the roster.

Why it matters: Coaching the National League squad requires balancing competitive exhibition goals against strict rest protocols for star contributors ahead of the second-half stretch. Los Angeles currently leads its division push while actively pursuing rotation upgrades ahead of the July trade deadline. Ensuring minimal injury exposure during the break remains critical for pennant-contending clubs preparing for October.

What to watch: The National League and American League face off in the midsummer classic on Tuesday night. Regular-season schedule play resumes across the league on Friday.