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Braun fifth in bunched NL ASG outfield vote
- Updated: June 1, 2016
The Cubs are off to their best start other than 1907, and there’s another way to measure their success so far this season: five leaders in the first National League voting update during the ongoing 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot campaign.
Only time will tell whether the starting infield at the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard on July 12 in San Diego will be the same one seen routinely at Wrigley Field, but as of Wednesday’s announcement by Major League Baseball, it would include first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, shortstop Addison Russell and third baseman Kris Bryant.
Add center fielder Dexter Fowler, who is among the three NL outfield vote leaders, and it’s a Cubs quintet. And that doesn’t even include right-hander Jake Arrieta, who could be a sixth starting Cub if things continue to go his way on the mound. Fans vote for starting position players, and the pitcher will be up to NL manager Terry Collins of the Mets and MLB.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — on their computers, tablets and smartphones — exclusively online using the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times.
• American League All-Star balloting update
Rizzo was the NL’s starting designated hitter last year in Cincinnati, his second straight All-Star selection, but this time he is in line to start at first base. His 37 RBIs lead all NL first basemen. Brandon Belt of the Giants has the best OPS (.890) in this particular race, and he is second in the early tally. They are followed, respectively, by five-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez and last year’s NL starter at first, Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt.
Zobrist was an All-Star reserve in 2009 and ’13 with Tampa Bay, but in the first update he is ahead of Daniel Murphy of the Nationals and Neil Walker of the Mets, respectively. Zobrist leads the Majors with a .445 OBP and ranks fourth with a .345 average. It could be a torrid race, given Murphy’s .397 average and Walker’s 13 homers.
Russell leads at shortstop in his first …
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