Why Dodgers' Mookie Betts deserves your All-Star votes (even if he can't play)

After the first round of All-Star voting, three Dodgers have moved on to the decisive round ahead of the game on July 16. Voting for round two ends on July 3 at 9 AM PT, and a new update reveals that a couple of Dodgers are in need of a huge, collective push if LA fans want to see their team amply represented in Arlington.

Shohei Ohtani leads Kyle Schwarber for NL DH by a wide margin — 61% to 39% of the vote — but Mookie Betts is in a tight race with Trea Turner, who's leading the shortstop vote 53% to 47%. Teoscar Hernández is also in a close competition for one of three outfield spots, currently tied for fifth with Nick Castellanos but just a few percentage points away from third place Fernando Tatis.

While Phillies fans are clearly gunning to make the NL All-Star team look mostly like the one they see on the field everyday, Betts has a real shot here of edging Turner out. It's likely that Betts' injury, which will keep him off the field for at least another month and will definitely preclude him from playing in the All-Star game, will play a role in the final tally. Dodgers fans should still spam that vote button to give him the eighth starting spot of his career, though, as more of a feather in his cap rather than a lineup-cementing endorsement.

There's still time to make a late push and vote for Mookie Betts for the 2024 All-Star Game

Even if Betts won't be able to take the field for the game, his 3.5 fWAR, which places him fifth among all NL players, should speak for itself. His .405 OBP is still second-best in the NL by the slimmest of margins behind (who other than) Jurickson Profar, despite the fact that Betts has already missed a couple weeks' worth of games. He was the favorite for NL MVP before he got hurt, and very well may still have an argument for it when he returns from injury.

If any stray Phillies fans are reading this, Betts placing first will still be the best of both worlds for everyone. He won't be able to play, so Turner will immediately step in as the reserve shortstop. See? Win-win. (And we won't even say too much about how Turner has already missed a month and a half and 45 games shouldn't be enough to warrant an All-Star start).

Voting closes soon, but it's not too late for Dodgers fans to vote for Betts. Spam that 'vote' button, get Mookie to Arlington (even if it's just in spirit).