On the final NL All-Star ballot update, there are a lot of familiar faces in the top-5 at their position. It’s just that none of them happen to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In fact, only two Pirates are even close to the top-5: outfielders Starling Marte (No. 8) and Andrew McCutchen (No. 9). And both players are more than a million votes away from being one of the All-Star Game’s three starting outfielders — with only a few days before ballots close.
McCutchen, who has been an All-Star every year since 2011, has struggled in the first-half of this season, batting .240/.316/.417. He’s been on a bit of an uptick lately, but it’s unclear whether he can continue to post good numbers. As such, the centerfielder may not deserve consideration for the Midsummer Classic.
But Marte might.
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The Pittsburgh left fielder is batting .327/.367/.489 and leads all outfielders in average and is second among outfielders in hits (88). He leads all left fielders in stolen bases (20), is second in total bases (131) and is third in extra base hits (28). Marte’s not exactly a power hitter — he only has six homers this season — but he’s been the brightest spot in a struggling Pirates lineup. Oh, and Marte is phenomenal with his glove.
But while neither Marte nor McCutchen has a place on the All-Star roster at the moment, one or both still might make it; many roster moves occur after initial teams are announced.
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And the All-Star ballots don’t include pitchers, so there’s still a chance a guy like closer Mark Melancon, who was an All-Star in 2015 (along with McCutchen and Gerrit Cole), could get the nod from the NL’s manager, Terry Collins. Melancon is currently third in the NL in saves (22) and has posted a nasty 1.48 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 33 appearances.
All-Star voting ends June 30.
Image credit: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
