Cubs among leaders in first NL ballot update

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Javier Báez and Kris Bryant all are second at their respective positions in the first National League All-Star Game ballot update, released Monday.
• VOTE: 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is the top vote-getter so far, receiving 633,342 votes. Rizzo, a three-time All-Star, has received 248,275 votes for second.
Baez (360,307 votes) is second to Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (398,816), while Bryant (305,062) is second to Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (527,683). Contreras (259,427 votes) trails Giants catcher Buster Posey (281,331).
Chicago shortstop Addison Russell (210,764 votes) is third among his peers behind the Giants' Brandon Crawford (466,021) and the Braves' Dansby Swanson (225,182). Among NL outfielders, the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber is seventh (203,299 votes), Ben Zobrist eighth (196,837) and Jason Heyward 10th (175,583). The Nationals' Bryce Harper leads all NL outfielders, receiving 498,189 votes
Three Braves outfielders rank among the top six, including Nick Markakis, who is second to Harper; Ronald Acuña Jr. at No. 5 and Ender Inciarte at No. 6.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 10:59 p.m. CT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.
Rizzo has driven in a run in each of his past seven games, a career high and a stretch not matched by a Cub since Moises Alou drove in a run in 10 straight games from Aug. 20-29, 2004. Rizzo now has 22 RBIs in his last 21 games with an at-bat, and his 45 RBIs this season are tied for fifth in the NL.
Heyward has been on a surge as well. He's hitting .396 with six runs and a .971 OPS in 11 games since May 29.