Cueto named All-Star Final Vote candidate

WASHINGTON -- With the election of Todd Frazier as the starting third baseman for the National League All-Star team after he trailed big a couple of weeks ago, Reds fans know how to mobilize and get out the vote.

They will be needed one more time this week. Reds rotation ace Johnny Cueto has been named one of five NL candidates for the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote, where fans get to select the final player on both teams' 34-man rosters.

"I hope they can do the same thing they did with Frazier with me. We'll see," Cueto said through translator Tomas Vera.

:: All-Star Game on Fox: July 14, 7 ET air time | 8:15 game time ::

 Cueto, who is seeking his second All-Star berth, will be competing for votes against pitcher Carlos Martinez (Cardinals), pitcher Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), pitcher Jeurys Familia (Mets) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies).

"I feel great. I hope the fans go ahead and vote for me," Cueto said. "I'd really enjoy that. I feel relaxed and feel good. I'm just waiting for it."

Besides Frazier, Aroldis Chapman was named to his fourth consecutive All-Star team as well on Monday via the players vote.

• Aroldis earns fourth straight All-Star selection

Last year in Minneapolis, Cueto was a first-time All-Star, but he did not participate and was replaced on the roster by teammate Alfredo Simon.

With a 5-5 record and 2.84 ERA in 15 starts this season, Cueto entered the day ranked 11th in ERA, 15th with 104 2/3 innings and 13th with 100 strikeouts. He was third with both a .199 opponents' batting average and 0.92 WHIP. In six starts since he was scratched from a May 24 start with right elbow stiffness, he is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA.

"I'm happy for him. I think he's deserving," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's unfortunate that he maybe missed a couple of starts along the way. He still got over 100 innings, 100 strikeouts, a really low WHIP, and ERA under 3.00, 20 walks in 106 innings. It's a great year. I wish he had more wins to show for it. I think that would have put him over the top if he had eight, nine or 10 wins, but he's an ace. Everybody knows he's an ace in the league."

Video: Cueto reacts to being part of the 2015 NL Final Vote

Voting is open now at MLB.com to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each league until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

During the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MVP Vote presented by Chevrolet, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (7 p.m. ET air time, 8:15 first pitch), 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 of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Video: Reds, Tigers align to #VoteYo and #VoteCueto for ASG

In a show of Final Vote solidarity, the Reds and the American League's Tigers have formed an alliance to get each of their players into the All-Star Game. Detroit is helping to promote Cueto, while Cincinnati will aid in getting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes elected. Cueto will have a prime opportunity to make his case for the voters when he starts on Tuesday vs. the Nationals, and their ace -- Max Scherzer, who was also selected to the All-Star roster.

Although Cueto is also scheduled to pitch on Sunday, there is still a chance he could appear in the All-Star Game two days later. The "Sunday Pitcher Rule" in the 2012 Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association states, "Any starting pitcher elected or selected to the All-Star team who makes a start on the Sunday immediately preceding the All-Star Game shall have the option to participate or not participate in the All-Star Game."

"It would be like my bullpen day. Let's wait. Let's see what happens," Cueto said.

Any pitcher that started Sunday would not be allowed to pitch more than one inning, and he may set a specific pitch count with his manager.

"We'll see. We have to get there first," Price said. "I can't really answer that question without talking it over and going through the process. It would be premature."

Should Cueto be used in the All-Star Game, it could be a special moment for him and Reds fans. A free agent after the season, the 29-year-old is widely speculated to be a prime candidate to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.