DETROIT -- The Tigers' last hopes at an All-Star starter -- and maybe their best chance at getting a position player on the AL roster -- lie in a final charge for Jose Cabrera, who's slipping in a cluttered race at first base.
Cabrera fell a spot to fourth in Esurance All-Star Ballot at first base in the latest update Monday, thanks to a late charge from Toronto's Justin Smoak to the second spot. Meanwhile, Cabrera's deficit to Kansas City's Eric Hosmer atop the balloting is now at just over 408,500 votes.
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No other Tigers ranked in the top five at his position or top 15 among AL outfielders.
Cabrera is trying for his 12th All-Star Game. He has been a starter three times, including the AL starter at first base in 2010 and '14. He hasn't been left off the AL All-Star team since '09 -- his second year with the Tigers. But between Hosmer's reign and breakout starts at first base this season from Smoak and Oakland's Yonder Alonso, Cabrera is at serious risk of being left out of the Midsummer Classic altogether.
Cabrera has struggled through injuries this season to a .261 average, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. He has "barreled" 23 balls this season according to Statcast™, ranking him just outside the top 20 among Major League players and behind just Smoak and Tampa Bay's Logan Morrison among AL first basemen. Cabrera has hit 54.5 percent of batted balls with a 95-plus mph exit velocity, sixth among MLB players with at least 100 balls put in play.
Cabrera struggled on the Tigers' West Coast trip last week, going 4-for-28 with one home run and two RBIs.
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 at 11:59 p.m. ET. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps.
The Esurance All-Star Selection Show will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Following the unveiling 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.