Major League Baseball released the first All-Star voting update on Monday, and one thing seems clear: fans are keenly aware of the best teams. Members of the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the two best records in the majors, take up seven of nine National League starting spots for the game in Philadelphia on July 14.The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani leads all players with 1.165 million votes for the NL’s designated hitter spot (fans do not vote for pitchers), and teammates Freddie Freeman (first base), Max Muncy (third base) and Andy Pages (outfield) also lead their positions. The Braves, meanwhile, have catcher Drake Baldwin, second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., now on the injured list with a hamstring strain, among the starters.Here are some other takeaways from Phase 1 of balloting, which ends on Thursday, June 25 at noon. A second phase, with only finalists, runs from Monday, June 29 to Thursday, July 2, with the teams announced on July 4. Voting is conducted exclusively online.
A colorful AL lineupThe American League leaders include players from seven teams, with only the Yankees (outfielder Cody Bellinger and the injured Aaron Judge) and Blue Jays (first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and second baseman Ernie Clement) holding multiple spots. The Athletics (catcher Shea Langeliers), Rays (third baseman Junior Caminero), Royals (shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.), Angels (outfielder Mike Trout) and Astros (DH Yordan Alvarez) are the other teams with a starter.
