ST. LOUIS -- Three Cardinals are currently in the mix to start the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, but they remain entrenched in tough battles to start on the National League team. Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong and William Fowler are all among the leaders at their respective positions in the third voting update of the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot revealed on Monday, but will need some help to move up in the rankings.
Molina is in third place and remains closely behind Willson Contreras, with Buster Posey maintaining a significant lead in first place. If the Cards' seven-time All-Star doesn't win the fan vote, it will be the second consecutive year he hasn't started for the NL squad.
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Another Cardinals player that needs fans' help is Fowler. While he remains ranked among the top 15 at his position, the center fielder has moved back a spot on the leaderboard, going from 10th to 11th. The top three vote-getters in the outfield will make the starting team. The center fielder is coming off an impressive outing, hitting a three-run homer to help lead the Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over the Phillies on Sunday.
Wong is in fifth place in the NL second-base race after returning from the 10-day disabled list this week. Wong is just behind both Brandon Phillips and DJ LeMahieu after registering at least one hit in each of his first three games back with the team.
Two players that are no longer on the leaderboard are three-time All-Star Matt Carpenter and Jedd Gyorko, despite both coming off a strong offensive series in the Cards' sweep of the Phillies. Carpenter, in his new role batting leadoff, has a five-game hitting streak, and the three-time All Star leads the Cardinals with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. At third base, Gyorko has continues to put together impressive plays defensively, while maintaining the highest batting average (.307) on the team.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 29, at 10:59 p.m. CT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 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 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.