MLB All-Star voting has begun, and although the game is no longer in Atlanta, a few Braves are in the lead for their respective positions. From MLB.com:
Catcher:
William Contreras: NR
First Base:
1. Max Muncy, LAD, 23%
2. Freddie Freeman, ATL, 16%
3. Anthony Rizzo, CHC, 12%
Next up: Eric Hosmer, SD, 10%; Jesús Aguilar, MIA, 7%
Muncy went on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique on Saturday, but he’s built an impressive résumé over the first two-plus months of this season, leading the Dodgers in wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference. He’s the top vote getter among NL first basemen ahead of Freeman, the ’20 NL MVP and the NL’s starting first baseman in the past two All-Star Games, and Rizzo, who started at DH in ‘15 and first base in ‘16. Hosmer, the AL’s starting first baseman in ‘16, trails Rizzo by a couple percentage points.
Second Base:
1. Ozzie Albies, ATL, 17%
2. Adam Frazier, PIT, 12%
3. Gavin Lux, LAD, 10%
Next up: Nico Hoerner, CHC, 10%; Jake Cronenworth, SD, 9%
This is one of the closest races of any position — less than 7,700 votes separate Lux, Hoerner and Cronenworth. It’s looking likely that we’ll have a first-time starter at this spot, as none of players in the top five spots has started an All-Star Game before.
Third Base
1. Kris Bryant, CHC, 29%
2. Nolan Arenado, STL, 14%
3. Justin Turner, LAD, 12%
Next up: Manny Machado, SD, 11%; Austin Riley, ATL, 11%
In the past four All-Star Games, it’s been either Bryant (2016) or Arenado (‘17-19) starting at third base for the Senior Circuit, and the new NL Central rivals hold the top two spots in this race. The last spot could come down to the wire, as Turner and Machado are separated by less than 10,000 votes, while Riley trails Machado by roughly 7,200.
Shortstop:
Dansby Swanson: NR
Outfield:
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL, 16%
2. Nick Castellanos, CIN, 11%
3. Jesse Winker, CIN, 9%
4. Mookie Betts, LAD, 8%
5. Juan Soto, WSH, 4%
6. Chris Taylor, LAD, 4%
7. Bryce Harper, PHI, 3%
8. Trent Grisham, SD, 3%
9. Ketel Marte, ARI, 3%
Next up: Joc Pederson, CHC, 2%; Christian Yelich, MIL, 2%; Tyler O’Neill, STL, 2%
Acuña got the start for the NL in center field at the 2019 Midsummer Classic, and he’s currently the NL’s leading vote getter. Fans also have shown their support for the Reds’ powerful duo of Castellanos and Winker, neither of whom has made an All-Star team before. We have an incredibly tight race for the ninth spot, as Marte leads Pederson by roughly 2,300 votes and Yelich and O’Neill by less than 8,100.
Austin Riley is a bit too low, but I think he can break into third place and make the team. Right now, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman are in tight races to start, so keep voting for your favorite Braves players.
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