For high-profile snubs like Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto, the 2015 MLB All-Star Game final vote represents one last chance to sneak into the Midsummer Classic.
Five players from each league make up the ballot, and voting for the final All-Star gigs runs through Friday at 4 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the American League and National League hopefuls who made the cut, via MLB.com:
American League
- Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox
- Yoenis Cespedes, LF, Detroit Tigers
- Brian Dozier, 2B, Minnesota Twins
- Brett Gardner, LF, New York Yankees
- Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals
National League
- Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds
- Jeurys Familia, RP, New York Mets
- Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Carlos Martinez, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
- Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
In the process of determining the odds for each of the above players to land a spot, first-half stats were certainly part of the equation. But ultimately, this is a popularity contest, which is great news for Moustakas and Kershaw.
First we’ll examine the AL candidates, and then we’ll delve into the NL contenders.