ST. LOUIS -- If Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is to earn his fifth career fan-elected All-Star Game selection, he's going to need a late boost of support.
With about 30 hours remaining before the voting for the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard closes, Major League Baseball announced that Giants catcher Buster Posey has leapfrogged Molina in the race for National League starting catcher. Molina, who led Posey by 5,130 votes as of Monday's update, trailed by 107,000 votes in Wednesday's update.
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Over the last two days, Posey received 51.5 percent more votes than Molina, who is seeking to be named to the NL All-Star team for the eighth consecutive season. Voting will remain open through 10:59 p.m. CT on Thursday. Molina and Posey have combined to win six of the last seven fan elections for NL catcher.
Molina, edged by Posey in last summer's voting, would become the third player in franchise history with five fan elections if he can overtake Posey in the final voting hours. Ozzie Smith (12) and Albert Pujols (5) are the other two Cardinals to hold that distinction.
Molina entered Wednesday's game against the Royals hitting .262 with 15 doubles, 26 RBIs and 26 runs scored. He was four shy of 1,5000 career hits, a mark reached by just 33 other catchers in MLB history. He's also caught more innings (589 1/3) than any other backstop in 2016.
Arguably the Cardinals' most deserving All-Star, Matt Carpenter, still needs a massive surge of support to overtake Chicago's Kris Bryant and Colorado's Nolan Arenado in the third-base vote. As of Monday, Carpenter, with 882,135 votes, trailed Bryant by 1.6 million. Carpenter had hit safely in 18 of 21 games this month and led the Majors in OPS (1.012) entering Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Other Cardinals players cracking the voting leaderboard this week included Brandon Moss, ranked fifth among NL first basemen; Stephen Piscotty, ranked 10th among NL outfielders; and Matt Holliday, ranked 12th among NL outfielders.
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. 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). Text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.
Following the July 5 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.