Altuve gains ground in latest All-Star ballot
HOUSTON -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has narrowed the gap between he and Royals second baseman Omar Infante on the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot, but the reigning AL batting champ still trails by 231,708 votes to start the game.
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Altuve trailed Infante by 435,540 votes last week, spurring some of his teammates to take action. The entire team, including Astros manager and AL All-Star coach A.J. Hinch, donned orange "Yes Way, Jose!" shirts during batting practice of Saturday's 9-6 loss to the Yankees.
Altuve and the Astros welcome Infante and the Royals to Minute Maid Park for a three-game series that started on Monday night.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday at 10:59 p.m. CT. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.
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.
The 2015 All-Star starters will be unveiled on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT on the Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show on ESPN. Then on Monday at 6 p.m. CT, the All-Star reserves, pitchers and Final Vote candidates will be announced on the Esurance All-Star Selection Show on ESPN, immediately after which fans can return to MLB.com to begin casting their 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Votes for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. Final Vote ends Friday, July 10, at 3 p.m. CT. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game 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 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.
The 86th 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.