5 Reds with the best chance to make the NL All-Star team

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Read our story on the balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters.

SAN DIEGO -- Things haven't been going well lately for the Reds collectively, but multiple players have performed well for much of season, individually. Who might be worthy of All-Star consideration?

Major League Baseball released the ballot for this year's All-Star Game last week. At least one -- maybe more -- player from Cincinnati could wind up in Philadelphia for the 2026 All-Star Game on July 14.

Let's take a look at some potential candidates.

RHP Chase Burns
One of baseball's younger and more electric pitchers, Burns is 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 13 starts after his start vs. the Padres on Tuesday. The 23-year-old went 4-0 with a 1.19 ERA in five starts in May. Among NL starters entering Thursday, he ranked third in ERA, second in opposing batting average (.190), fourth in WHIP (0.99) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (88). All of this is happening during his first full big league campaign and second professional season.

Fans are unable to vote for pitchers in balloting, but Burns' current trajectory should give player and league voters a lot to consider.

OF JJ Bleday
The National League's Player of the Month for May after he led the league in slugging, OPS and total bases, Bleday has done just about everything on his part to keep Cincinnati's offense afloat. And that was before Elly De La Cruz went on the injured list June 1. The amazing thing about Bleday's emergence is he wasn't even on the Opening Day roster. Called up from Triple-A Louisville on April 25, he is batting .270 with a .931 OPS, 11 home runs and 29 RBIs.

SS Elly De La Cruz
When De La Cruz went on the IL for the first time in his career because of a right hamstring strain, it interrupted what has been his most consistent season at the plate. The switch-hitter reduced slumps by improving from the right side and is batting .280 with an .855 OPS, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs and 10 steals in 58 games. De La Cruz is already a two-time All-Star in 2024 and '25, and is certainly high on everyone's radar. He could be back on the field later this month.

1B/3B Sal Stewart
Already the NL Rookie of the Month award winner in March/April, Stewart is a budding star who has shown an advanced hitting approach and knowledge of the strike zone. Playing mostly at first base, the 22-year-old is batting .254 with an .812 OPS, a team leading 13 homers, 42 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

UTIL Spencer Steer
After a rough first month, Steer has quietly put together a strong season while batting .257 with a .774 OPS and 10 homers. He has also played good defense at multiple positions, including left field, right field, first base and second base. His career-long 24-game streak of reaching base was snapped on Sunday at St. Louis, ending what had also been the longest active streak in MLB. Steer has hit safely in 31 of the Reds' last 39 games since April 28.

Fans are able to vote daily during Phase 1 of the balloting, which runs until noon ET on June 25. The top two players at each position (and top six outfielders) per league will advance to the finals to contend for a starting spot.

Phase 2 voting for the finalists is June 29-July 2 and full All-Star rosters will be revealed on July 4.

“We still have a month out," Bleday said. "Some guys are playing really good. If all goes well, that will take care of itself. Right now, I don’t think anybody is worried about that.”