Mattingly expects surge for Puig in fan voting

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig is among the National League's leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, but he's not leading the NL outfield All-Star race.

Not yet.

"It seems like the guys who were hot in April got the early votes," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before Friday night's game with the Pirates.

Puig sits fifth in the NL outfield voting, behind Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton, the Brewers' Ryan Braun, Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen and vote leader Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies. But Puig's bat has heated up after a moderately cool April. He's batting .410/.508/.770 in the month of May, hitting eight of his 11 home runs on the season.

Puig is batting .348/.443/.631 overall -- good for second in the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. Mattingly said part of the reason for Puig's current All-Star vote standing could be his polarizing nature. He draws strong opinions -- some positive, some less so.