The 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot is headed into its last two weeks of heaviest voting volume to decide starters for the 87th All-Star Game presented by MasterCard on July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego, and five key races remain up for grabs in the National League at catcher, second base, third base, shortstop and the third outfield spot.
NL leaders announced Wednesday by Major League Baseball once again included Yadier Molina of the Cardinals at catcher, Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs at first base, Ben Zobrist of the Cubs at second base, Kris Bryant of the Cubs at third base, Addison Russell of the Cubs at shortstop, and an outfield of Chicago's Dexter Fowler, Bryce Harper of the Nationals and Yoenis Cespedes of the Mets. But the races are far from over.
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Balloting history at MLB.com shows that many races are changeable despite seemingly large leads due to record voting pace during the final two weeks. Pablo Sandoval, Ryan Braun, Robinson Cano, Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedroia, Alex Avila, Josh Hamilton and Melky Cabrera are just some of the many examples who come to mind as late-surge All-Star starters.
Balloting continues until 11:59 p.m. ET on June 30 and you can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times.
• Close race for third outfield spot in American League
Catcher is still the tightest NL race, with Molina nudging his lead to 77,287 votes over Buster Posey of the Giants in a bid for his eighth consecutive selection. And don't sleep on Washington's Wilson Ramos, who has 600,181 votes to stay within striking distance. Just shy of qualifying for league leaders, Ramos leads all Major League catchers with at least 180 plate appearances in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.382), OPS (.939) and fewest strikeouts (25).
The current Cubs-Nationals series is a showdown between the clubs with the NL's two best records, and a microcosm of that intense atmosphere can be found in the All-Star race at second base: It's a chance to see Zobrist and Daniel Murphy on the same stage. Zobrist, who scored a key run in the Cubs' 4-3 victory on Tuesday, leads all NL second basemen in runs and on-base percentage. Murphy was hitless four times up in that game, but leads the Majors in batting and the NL in OPS. Since last week's update, Zobrist has outgained Murphy by only 89,141 votes, suggesting a possible trending change.
The situation at third base is almost identical as that in the race at second, with roughly the same margin separating Bryant and Colorado's Nolan Arenado. Arenado leads Bryant in average, homers, RBIs, OPS and he has half the number of strikeouts ... and is best-known for his glove. But Bryant is a cog on a Cubs team that has continued to tear up the NL. Bryant garnered more votes than Arenado in the past week, 456,906 to 325,100, but now the clicks will intensify even more.
In fact, the entire left side of the infield is a Cubs-Rockies race, as Colorado rookie Trevor Story continues to stay on Russell's heels in the balloting at shortstop. Russell's lead is 282,041.
Jason Heyward of the Cubs is 402,504 away from Cespedes in the race for the last outfield spot, and Milwaukee's Braun is right behind him. As noted above, Braun is no stranger to leapfrogging in the final two weeks of heavy voting.
Rizzo, a two-time All-Star (2014-15) bidding for his first fan election, remains the NL's top vote-getter with 1,748,850 total votes received.
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.
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.
NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING LEADERS
CATCHER

1. Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 933,300
   
2. Buster Posey, Giants: 856,013
   
3. Wilson Ramos, Nationals: 600,181
   
4. Miguel Montero, Cubs: 579,933
   
5. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 434,029
   FIRST BASE
   
6. Anthony Rizzo, Cubs: 1,748,850
   
7. Brandon Belt, Giants: 584,533
   
8. Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs: 485,008
   
9. Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers: 474,762
   
10. John Jaso, Pirates: 276,254
    SECOND BASE
    
11. Ben Zobrist, Cubs: 1,601,381
    
12. Daniel Murphy, Nationals: 1,123,357
    
13. Neil Walker, Mets: 384,255
    
14. Joe Panik, Giants: 374,271
    
15. Josh Harrison, Pirates: 309,085
    THIRD BASE
    
16. Kris Bryant, Cubs: 1,629,623
    
17. Nolan Arenado, Rockies: 1,166,247
    
18. Matt Carpenter, Cardinals: 424,794
    
19. Matt Duffy, Giants: 330,644
    
20. David Wright, Mets: 273,002
    SHORTSTOP
    
21. Addison Russell, Cubs: 1,170,012
    
22. Trevor Story, Rockies: 887,971
    
23. Brandon Crawford, Giants: 501,557
    
24. Corey Seager, Dodgers: 476,525
    
25. Zack Cozart, Reds: 393,101
    OUTFIELD
    
26. Dexter Fowler, Cubs: 1,611,833
    
27. Bryce Harper, Nationals: 1,451,270
    
28. Yoenis Cespedes, Mets: 1,395,577
    
29. Jason Heyward, Cubs: 993,073
    
30. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 845,093
    
31. Jorge Soler, Cubs: 678,395
    
32. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 557,531
    
33. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 516,554
    
34. Starling Marte, Pirates: 481,887
    
35. Hunter Pence, Giants: 448,871
    
36. Stephen Piscotty, Cardinals: 424,264
    
37. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 335,257
    
38. Michael Conforto, Mets: 332,333
    
39. Gregory Polanco, Pirates: 332,250
    
40. Charlie Blackmon, Rockies: 314,502