Final All-Star update before end of Phase 2 voting

The Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani have already earned starting spots after leading the National League and American League, respectively, in Phase 1 votes in the Scotts MLB All-Star Ballot. The rest of the All-Star starters will be revealed on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Vote totals from Phase 1 didn’t carry over.

Here’s how the standings looked after the latest Phase 2 update.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

FIRST BASE
1) Yandy Díaz, Rays: 53%
2) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays: 47%

Díaz, one of two Rays finalists in the running to join Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and Corey Dickerson as the only Tampa Bay position players to start an All-Star Game, is still ahead of Guerrero, though his lead has narrowed slightly.

SECOND BASE
1) Marcus Semien, Rangers: 65%
2) Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays: 35%

Semien, who has received a larger voting share at his position than any other AL player, is one of four Rangers who continue to lead their races as Phase 2 rolls on. The Rangers haven’t had an All-Star starter since Adrián Beltré, Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli all started in 2012.

THIRD BASE
1) Josh Jung, Rangers: 58%
2) Matt Chapman, Blue Jays: 42%

Jung still has a sizable lead over Chapman as he looks to become the first Rangers rookie to start an All-Star Game since the franchise moved to Texas in 1972.

SHORTSTOP
1) Corey Seager, Rangers: 60%
2) Bo Bichette, Blue Jays: 40%

Aiming to lock down his first career All-Star starting nod, Seager remains 20 percentage points ahead of Bichette in the home stretch of Phase 2. Seager missed 31 games with a hamstring injury earlier this season, but he has solidified his All-Star case by slashing .342/.392/.626 with nine homers and 43 RBIs in 37 games since he came off the IL.

OUTFIELD
1) Mike Trout, Angels: 23%
2) Randy Arozarena, Rays: 22%
3) Aaron Judge, Yankees: 19%
4) Yordan Alvarez, Astros: 15%
5) Adolis García, Rangers: 12%
6) Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays: 10%

Trout, Arozarena and Judge remain the leading trio among AL outfielders, with Alvarez slipping to four percentage points behind Judge for the final starting spot.

CATCHER
1) Jonah Heim, Rangers: 52%
2) Adley Rutschman, Orioles: 48%

Of the four Rangers who currently lead their races in Phase 2, Heim’s advantage is the most tenuous. Rutschman has closed the gap to four percentage points, making this the closest head-to-head matchup in either league.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

FIRST BASE
1) Freddie Freeman, Dodgers: 61%
2) Matt Olson, Braves: 39%

Freeman has increased his lead in this matchup between the former and current starting first baseman for the Braves. This would be Freeman’s fourth career All-Star starting nod and first since joining the Dodgers.

SECOND BASE
1) Luis Arraez, Marlins: 54%
2) Ozzie Albies, Braves: 46%

Arraez, the MLB leader in batting average (.399), on-base percentage (.450) and hits (113), remains eight percentage points ahead of Albies. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. having to miss the 2022 All-Star Game after being elected to start, Arraez would become the first Marlins infielder to draw an All-Star start since Hanley Ramirez in 2010.

THIRD BASE
1) Nolan Arenado, Cardinals: 58%
2) Austin Riley, Braves: 42%

Not much has changed here, with Arenado still running 16 points ahead of Riley. If his lead holds, this would mark Arenado’s fifth start in the past six All-Star Games.

SHORTSTOP
1) Orlando Arcia, Braves: 69%
2) Francisco Lindor, Mets: 31%

One of six Braves finalists (not including Acuña), Arcia not only remains ahead of Lindor but also still has the largest voting share of any player in either league.

OUTFIELD
1) Mookie Betts, Dodgers: 34%
2) Corbin Carroll, D-backs: 30%
3) Michael Harris II, Braves: 19%
4) Lourdes Gurriel Jr., D-backs: 16%

The veteran Betts and the rookie Carroll are still on track to earn the final two starting outfield spots in the NL next to Acuña. The only other D-backs rookie to earn an All-Star selection was left-hander Wade Miley in 2012.

CATCHER
1) Sean Murphy, Braves: 56%
2) Will Smith, Dodgers: 44%

Smith has significant ground to make up to overtake Murphy, whose lead remains at 12 percentage points as he looks to join Del Crandall, Joe Torre, Javy Lopez and Brian McCann as the only Braves catchers to start an All-Star Game.

DESIGNATED HITTER
1) J.D. Martinez, Dodgers: 53%
2) Bryce Harper, Phillies: 47%

In the closest head-to-head race of any NL position, Martinez is still running six points ahead of Harper. If his lead holds, this would be Martinez’s first All-Star start since 2019 with the Red Sox.