Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Astros pitcher and video game connoisseur Lance McCullers Jr. will represent the club in Major League Baseball’s first-ever “MLB The Show” Players League.

Representatives from all 30 teams will go head-to-head in a round-robin format throughout April, playing 29, three-inning games to comprise a regular season. The top eight teams will advance to the postseason.

On behalf of each player, Major League Baseball, the Players Association and Sony Interactive Entertainment will contribute $5,000 to a Boys & Girls Club affiliate in their team’s community. The league winner will receive an additional $25,000 for his Boys & Girls Club affiliate.

Former Astros prospects Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers) and Brett Phillips (Kansas City Royals) are scheduled to star alongside McCullers. Former Rice star Jon Duplantier will represent the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The league begins Friday, when Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell faces off against Cincinnati Reds reliever Amir Garrett. Games will be streamed on Twitch and YouTube.