NEW YORK -- Nolan Arenado is leading National League third basemen in essentially every category. Except for votes on the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot.
Arenado trails the NL's leading vote getter -- Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant -- by about 500,000 votes in the most recent NL All-Star update, despite entering Wednesday as the league leader in home runs (21) and RBIs (60). Also in second place trailing a Cub is Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who sits fewer than 400,000 votes behind Addison Russell for a starting position.
• National League All-Star voting update
Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon are also within potential striking distance of a starting spot, with Gonzalez (780,290) receiving the seventh-most votes of any NL outfielder and Blackmon (442,459) the 13th-most. That said, both substantially trail the third-leading vote-getting outfielder, Mets standout Yoenis Cespedes, who has 1,759,302 votes.
Both Blackmon and Gonzalez have kicked things into gear over the past couple of weeks. In the last week, Blackmon has notched three multihit games and smacked three home runs, including a two-homer effort Tuesday versus the Yankees. Gonzalez, meanwhile, has been otherworldly since the end of May. Over the past 29 days, Gonzalez has posted a .396 batting average and .764 slugging percentage, the latter mark standing as the best in baseball over that span.
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 until Thursday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times.
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, with a maximum of up to five messages and 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 in San Diego 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 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.