Yadier on track for All-Star start behind dish

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has hit frustrating times at the plate in recent weeks, but his lead in voting for the National League All-Star team remains strong.

The five-time All-Star backstop remains in first among NL catchers in a ballot update released Sunday. Molina (2,003,557) continues to lead Giants catcher Buster Posey (1,414,363) in the voting and has accrued the second-most votes among NL players, second only to Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2,593,387).

Molina was hitting just .128 (6-for-47) in his last 13 games entering Sunday, watching his average fall from .323 to .283, but he remains second in the NL among catchers with 66 hits.

The six-time Gold Glove winner has also thrown out 45 percent of runners attempting to steal on him this season.

Left fielder Matt Holliday, for the fourth time in as many ballot updates, remains 11th among outfielders in voting with 683,919 votes. The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (1,942,701), the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (1,727,534) and the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (1,659,430) lead the way at that position.

The Cardinals have another new face in this week's update. Third baseman Matt Carpenter has jumped into the top five at the hot corner, with 692,745 votes. The Mets' David Wright (1,051,640) leads the way. Carpenter has upped his average to .291 with hits in 20 of his last 25 games, for a .350 clip in that span.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 10:59 p.m. CT. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.

Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Monday, July 14.

The 2014 American League and NL All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.