Teammates appeal for Kershaw in Final Vote

LOS ANGELES -- As an organization with vast resources, the Dodgers know how to unleash a promotional blitzkrieg.

• Cast your Esurance Final Vote for Kershaw

But if Clayton Kershaw wins the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote, it will be through a simple appeal that reflects his understated and professional persona.

The core of the message: It can't really be an All-Star Game without the reigning National League MVP Award winner and NL Cy Young Award winner.

The Twitter hashtag captures the theme -- #MVPtoASG.

Teammates have taken up the cause by tweeting through their accounts. They include fellow All-Star Yasmani Grandal, Brett Anderson, Justin Turner, Kiké Hernandez and Chris Hatcher.

:: All-Star Game on Fox: July 14, 7 ET air time | 8:15 game time ::

Voting is open now at MLB.com to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each League until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

After the first day of voting, Kershaw ranked fourth on the NL ballot behind Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez, and ahead of Mets closer Jeurys Familia.

A club spokesman said there is no need to justify Kershaw's worthiness to be an All-Star. He's the face of the team, the face of the game, in many ways, for several years and -- except for a win-loss record this year skewed by poor run support -- has pitched as well or better than those already chosen.

National pundits apparently agree, as ESPN's Buster Olney listed Kershaw the most glaring omission from either league. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal urged fans to vote for Kershaw and "save our sport from looking dumb."

If the 27-year-old Kershaw is elected, he would be an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season. The last Dodgers pitcher to have more than that was Fernando Valenzuela (1981-86).

A Kershaw win also would give the Dodgers five All-Stars this season for the first time since 1995. The others named on Monday were Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Joc Pederson and Grandal.

Nomar Garciaparra is the only Dodger to make an All-Star team via the Final Vote (2005). Matt Kemp ('09), Andre Ethier ('11), Gonzalez ('13), Yasiel Puig ('13) and Kenley Jansen ('14) also have been Dodgers Final Vote candidates.

During the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati on Tuesday, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MVP Vote presented by Chevrolet, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (7 p.m. ET air time, 8:15 first pitch), 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 of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.