Phase 2 of the MLB All-Star voting process is underway and will last until 9 a.m. PST on Thursday, so be sure to pack the ballot boxes, Los Angeles Dodgers fans! ESPN will reveal the 2023 All-Star Game starters on June 29 at 4 p.m. PST.
The Dodgers will have at least four players on the roster but have a chance to make them all starters if they can win the runoff election in their head-to-head battles for their positions.
And once Mookie Betts is a confirmed All-Star, he said he will officially declare as a participant for the Home Run Derby! He made it known he's ready to add that trophy to his mantle.
"It’s the last thing I haven’t done. My wife kind of compared it to [NBA superstar LeBron James] not doing the dunk contest. And that’s not a knock or anything, but she just feels like for what I’m trying to do in baseball, bring awareness to Black culture, I should probably be more involved."Mookie Betts, MLB.com
Pretty cool. Nonetheless, Phase 2 of the voting process determines this year's All-Star starters. Vote totals from Phase 1 do not carry over, so it's paramount for fans to get back to the online polls.
MLB All-Star Game Voting: Dodgers could send 4 starters to Seattle
Here's the breakdown for the National League roster as it stands on Tuesday evening:
Catcher: Braves' Sean Murphy and Dodgers' Will Smith
First Base: Dodgers' Freddie Freeman and Braves' Matt Olson
Second Base: Marlins' Luis Arraez and Braves' Ozzie Albies
Third Base: Cardinals' Nolan Arenado and Braves' Austin Riley
Shortstop: Braves' Orlando Arcia and Mets' Francisco Lindor
Designated Hitter: Dodgers' JD Martinez and Phillies' Bryce Harper
Outfield: Dodgers' Mookie Betts, Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Braves' Michael Harris II
As you can see, Braves fans are piling on when you consider the fact none of Riley or Harris deserve to be there. And one could make the argument against Arcia as well since he's technically being outplayed by Cubs SS Dansby Swanson and D-backs SS Geraldo Perdomo.
Dodgers fans can displace three other Braves players from the starting lineup in Murphy, Olson and Harris II as well as one Phillie in Harper.
Have you ever had a better reason to go out there and cast as many votes as possible outside of doing so at the expense of a Giant or a Padre? And put one down for Arraez, Arenado and Lindor while you're at it, because a majority of the starting lineup being Braves players would be insufferable.