Cutch seeks surge in final week of ASG voting
PITTSBURGH -- The final 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot voting update was released Monday afternoon, and it shows that Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is going to need some help to return to the National League's starting lineup.
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According to the latest balloting update, McCutchen won't hear his name called when the All-Star starters are announced Sunday night. The 2013 NL MVP remains in fifth place among NL outfielders, having received 4,577,646 votes.
McCutchen still has a chance to start. He's currently behind the Nationals' Bryce Harper, the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton, the Cardinals' Matt Holliday and the Giants' Nori Aoki. Stanton is recovering from left hand surgery, Holliday is on the disabled list with a right quad strain and Aoki is dealing with a right fibula fracture.
McCutchen is 537,776 votes behind Aoki and 877,307 votes behind the third-place Holliday.
After a slow start, McCutchen has rounded into his usual dominant form. The 28-year-old is batting .294/.383/.487 with nine homers and 44 RBIs. In 48 games since he vowed to turn his season around on May 5, McCutchen has hit .353/.436/.590.
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 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.
The 2015 All-Star starters will be unveiled on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show on ESPN. Then on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, 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 4 p.m. ET. 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.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli, batting .303 while providing excellent defense behind the plate, remains a distant third behind the Giants' Buster Posey and the Cardinals' Yadier Molina. Cervelli has received 2,424,229 votes, nearly four million behind the second-place Molina.
Left fielder Starling Marte, meanwhile, moved up a spot to 14th among outfielders. Batting .279/.327/.457 on the season, Marte is tied for seventh among NL outfielders with seven homers and sits in fourth place with 46 RBIs. Marte has received 2,013,249 votes.