CINCINNATI — Yankees players absorbed most of the All-Star Game buzz in both 2013 and 2014, even as the team toiled on the edge of the playoff race. This year, the Yankees barely made a peep in the Midsummer Classic, yet the team leads the American League East.

Think the Yankees likes that trade?

Dellin Betances and Brett Gardner made their All-Star Game debuts Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, Betances more promisingly than Gardner, while Mark Teixeira appeared in his third such showcase. While they played small roles, they can reap great dividends from the American League’s 6-3 victory over the National League, as the Yankees will own homefield advantage if they advance to the World Series.

“I was in the All-Star Game when we won. I expected us to be in the World Series in ’09, and we needed that win,” said Teixeira, who replaced starting first baseman Albert Pujols in the sixth inning and went hitless in two at-bats. “I’m hoping to be there again this year.”

The victory allowed Teixeira to laugh off his ninth-inning strikeout against Cincinnati’s hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman. Four of the five pitches in the at-bat registered at 100 mph or faster, according to MLB.com.

“This guy’s throwing 102 miles an hour, and he’s just coming right at you. It’s power vs. power,” Teixeira said. “Pitchers usually win that battle, but I did my best.”

Asked whether he peeked at the radar gun readings on the scoreboard, Teixeira smiled and said, “Absolutely.”

Betances, who was selected to the 2014 AL team but didn’t pitch, threw a scoreless seventh inning, walking one and striking out one.

“It was a lot of fun,” Betances said. “Hopefully, I continue to work hard and make some more of these.”

Gardner, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Baltimore’s Adam Jones in the fifth inning, went to left field in the bottom of the inning and switched to center field in the seventh, struck out looking twice, first against the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (on a killer curveball) and then in the eighth inning against former Yankees prospect Mark Melancon of Pittsburgh.

“All in all, I had a lot of fun, and we won the game,” Gardner said. “That’s what we were shooting for.”

Last year at Minneapolis’ Target Field, retiring Yankee Derek Jeter started at shortstop and wound up in the center of controversy when he doubled off NL starting pitcher Adam Wainwright of St. Louis, only for Wainwright to claim he threw Jeter a “pipe shot” as a salute.

And in 2013, at Citi Field, retiring Yankees closer Mariano Rivera won the game’s Most Valuable Player honor by throwing a shutout eighth inning.

Though there has been some talk of possibly shortening the season Orioles center fielder Adam Jones doesn’t see that ever happening because of simple economics.

“I think people’s pockets are happy keeping it the way it is,” Jones said. “You realize, you take away eight games per team (5 percent). They always said when I got called up to the big leagues, 162 is telling the truth. They never say 154. Always 162.”

Long ago it used to be 154 games, Jones was told.

“Yeah, but I wasn’t even born yet,” he said. “[Ronald] Reagan used to be the president. I wasn’t born yet. Everybody is making money. There’s too much money. What they need to do is stop the other sports from having such a long-a—playoffs.”

The oldest All-Star here was a first-timer — former Yankee A.J. Burnett of Pittsburgh, 38, who announced before the 2015 season this would be his farewell campaign.

In fact, the right-hander credits the decision for his success; he has a 2.11 ERA in 119¹/₃ innings pitched, with 100 strikeouts and 33 walks.

“I kind of wish I had taken that approach a long time ago: Enjoy every day,” Burnett said. “You don’t want to say I don’t worry, but I’m just going out there and pitching until Skip [Pirates manager Clint Hurdle] takes me out. Just lay it out there.”

Burnett said he still intends to retire, despite his success.