PITTSBURGH -- Consider this another close play at the plate.
In the latest National League All-Star Game voting update, Giants catcher Buster Posey is in a tight contest for a starting position in next month's All-Star Game, trailing St. Louis' Yadier Molina by just a fraction of the total votes cast in online fan balloting.
This is nothing new for Posey, a three-time All-Star, and Molina, an All-Star selection in each of the last seven years. Molina, a four-time winner of the fan vote, leads Posey at the polls 1,205,497 to 1,130,084. Posey and Molina have combined to win the last four fan votes and six of the last seven.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 30, at 8:59 p.m. PT. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times.
Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.
Following the announcement of the 2016 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 87th All-Star Game, in San Diego, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
Six other Giants rank among the top five in voting at their respective positions, but aren't serious threats to finish atop the balloting.
Brandon Belt (839,188 votes) occupies second place among first basemen, but trails the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo by nearly 1.4 million votes. Similarly, second baseman Joe Panik (517,480) is in third place, with a vote total that's about one-fourth of what the Cubs' Ben Zobrist has earned.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford is in a close race, but it's for third place, which the Dodgers' Corey Seager holds with 703,230 votes. Crawford is fourth at 692,640. Matt Duffy is fourth among third basemen with 459,153 votes.
Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan are 11th and 15th, respectively, among outfielders.