After a leadoff switch for Anthony Rizzo, the first base battle is closer than before. Marcell Ozuna is making a last ditch effort to get voted in, while Buster Posey is running away with the catcher's position in this week's updated results of the Major League All-Star Game voting.
Rizzo makes run at Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman is batting .349 on the season, but ever since Rizzo was put into the leadoff spot, he has been on fire. Rizzo has three home runs, and would have had four if replay review didn't overturn it. Rizzo is looking to make his fourth straight appearance in the MLB All Star Game.
Zimmerman has 1,404,251 votes while Rizzo has 1,247,219 votes. With the way the Cubs are playing, there is no indication that Rizzo is leaving the leadoff spot. Another hot week could net Rizzo some key votes down the stretch.
Ozuna making push to get in
Ozuna has passed Matt Kemp for the number five spot on the list. As of now, Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon are guaranteed to appear, with over two million votes. The third spot is held by Jason Heyward and his 973,333 votes. Teammate Ben Zobrist is just behind with 887,804, while Ozuna has 871,393.
Zobrist does not deserve to be voted in with his .223 batting average. Ozuna is batting over one hundred points higher than Zobrist with a .324 batting average to go with 18 home runs and 49 runs batted in.
If Ozuna can notch his second career All-Star game, it would certainly raise the value of the Marlins' best trade chip.
Runaways for their position
Buster Posey holds a nine hundred thousand edge in terms of votes over second place Wilson Contreras. Daniel Murphy holds a one million edge over second place Javy Baez. Posey will make his fifth career All-Star Game this year.
Rounding out the rest
Zack Cozart holds a three million vote lead over Corey Seager at shortstop, while Kris Bryant holds a three million vote lead over Nolan Arenado at third base. Third base could have three players voted in. Bryant and Arenado are deserving, but so is Arizona Diamondback Jake Lamb.
Lamb leads the majors with 59 runs batted in, but is not receiving any love from the voting community.
Lamb sits in fifth place with just 564,447. Bryant is leading the position with 1,603,326, while Arenado has 1,300,612. It's possible that National League manager Joe Maddon could add Lamb as a substitute. There's also the possibility of Lamb making the list as the final player voted in.
