Miggy leads AL first basemen, but lead slim
Handful of Tigers teammates in mix, need votes to earn All-Star Game starts
Three-time batting champion and two-time American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Cabrera is at risk of not being an AL All-Star starter. As the latest voting results from the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot show, he has a battle for the starting nod at first base.
Cabrera's lead over Kansas City's Eric Hosmer, already the closest among the AL positions on the initial voting results released last week, is now down to slightly more than 70,000 votes, a minute amount compared to the 2,123,752 votes Cabrera has already received.
At this point, Cabrera is by far the Tigers' best hope for continuing their streak of at least one All-Star Game starter into a sixth year. And even he's having a hard time holding off the momentum Kansas City has built in balloting coming off its AL pennant.
If voting ended today, Royals players would occupy five of the nine sports in the starting lineup. Three other Royals, including Hosmer, sit second in balloting at their positions. Even reigning AL MVP Mike Trout is looking up at a Royal, Lorenzo Cain, among AL outfielders.
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Detroit's Yoenis Cespedes (1,024,346 votes) lost ground in the outfield race, now ranking sixth among outfielders after being passed by the Royals' Alex Rios, who hadn't played since April 13 until he came back from the disabled list on Sunday.
While Jose Iglesias (1,277,655) remains second among AL shortstops, his deficit grew to just under 1 million votes behind Alcides Escobar. Ian Kinsler (537,849) ranks third among second basemen behind Jose Altuve and Omar Infante.
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, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 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.
Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. 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.