MLB All-Star Game: The case for each NL Final Vote candidate

Which of the Final Vote candidates in the National League should head to this year’s MLB All-Star Game in Miami? Here’s a rundown of the choices.

Yesterday we looked at the five American League candidates in the MLB All-Star Game Final Vote and why you might lend your support to each of them. Today we’ll do the same for the five would-be All-Stars in the National League Final Vote.

Like the AL, the NL ballot only includes infielders, with one position in particular receiving most of the spotlight. While the Junior Circuit offered three shortstops fans could vote for, the Senior Circuit features a trio of third basemen. There are no full-time outfielders on either ballot, so if you have a soft spot for those who roam the outfield grass, you’re out of luck.

There is plenty of talent to consider among the National League candidates, however, and it might actually be more challenging to pick a frontrunner among the five choices. It should be interesting to see who fans decide to send to Miami as the last member of the NL squad. There is a case to be made for each player, including both on- and off-the-field factors. Only one has been an All-Star before, so there’s a good chance the winner will be a first-timer.

Fans have until Thursday, July 6 at 4:00 pm ET to cast their ballots in the All-Star Game Final Vote. The easiest way to vote is at MLB.com, where you can submit as many ballots as you’d like. You can also vote up to 35 times via text. (See link for more details.) Beginning at 10:00 am ET on Thursday, fans can also vote for players by Tweeting their respective hashtags (which are decidedly more boring in the NL).

Without further ado, let’s examine the five candidates vying for that final spot on the National League roster.

Next: One More for the Home Team

Justin Bour, Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins are hosting the All-Star Game and have two representatives to show for themselves: Marcell Ozuna is one of the NL’s starting outfielders, while Giancarlo Stanton is a reserve and will defend his crown in the Home Run Derby. For hometown fans who want to increase their delegation to three, Justin Bour presents the chance as a Final Vote candidate.

The first baseman is putting together a strong first half at the plate, slashing .289/.362/.553 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI in 71 games. He’s well on his way to setting new career highs in the home run and RBI categories by surpassing the 23 long balls and 73 RBI he managed in 2015.

Bour has quietly been a productive player with the bat for the past two seasons, though he was limited to 90 games last year. He slashed .263/.332/.478 (121 OPS+) with 38 homers and 124 RBI in 219 contests over that span. As of now, the 29-year-old appears headed toward his best campaign yet with a 142 OPS+.

It’s easy to get overshadowed by guys like Stanton and Ozuna, but Bour would surely gain some deserved recognition for his work if he wins the Final Vote. We’ll see if the fans in Miami can make it happen.

Official Final Vote Hashtag: #VoteBour

Next: A Reigning MVP

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

You’d think a player who won the NL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in his first two big league seasons would be a shoo-in for the All-Star team, but like the Cubs as a whole, Kris Bryant hasn’t quite looked himself in the first half of 2017. He’s still putting up good numbers, though, and is worthy of consideration for the final roster spot.

Bryant is slashing .263/.391/.511 with 16 home runs and 32 RBI in 76 games. While that’s certainly respectable, it’s well below the pace he set last year, when he hit .292/.385/.554 with 39 homers and 102 RBI. The power is still there for the most part, but Bryant has been unable to drive in nearly as many runs in a Cubs lineup that has underachieved to this point.

There are still improvements to be found in the young third baseman’s game, however. Bryant is currently posting the highest walk rate (15.7 percent) and lowest strikeout rate (21.6 percent) of his career. If the rest of the Cubs batting order gets going, those good habits should serve him well in the second half.

Though we all know the Cubs have been disappointing this year, it’s still somewhat shocking that closer Wade Davis is their only All-Star representative. If the defending champs want to salvage a bit more pride, their fans can vote to send Bryant to his third consecutive Midsummer Classic.

Official Final Vote Hashtag: #VoteKB

Next: The 10-RBI Man

Mark Reynolds, Colorado Rockies

Mark Reynolds has yet to make an All-Star squad in his 11-year career, and he’s rarely been a legitimate threat to do so. A monster performance in the first half could do the trick in sending the Colorado Rockies first baseman to his first Midsummer Classic.

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Reynolds didn’t even begin the spring with a guaranteed roster spot, but the Rockies owe a great deal of their first-half success to the veteran slugger. Through 79 games Reynolds is slashing .282/.369/.519 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI. He leads all the Final Vote candidates in the home run and RBI categories, so if that’s what motivates you, he’s probably your man.

The 33-year-old has somewhat evolved from his early days as a strikeout factory with lots of power. Reynolds led his league in strikeouts four straight years from 2008 to 2011, averaging 208 K’s per season. While he still strikes out plenty at 28.0 percent of the time, that’s comfortably below his high-water mark of 35.4 percent back in 2010. Reynolds is also in prime position to break the 30-homer threshold for the first time since 2011.

It’s possible Reynolds could get a boost from fans who’d like to reward a guy who’s been around the block a few times. He’s played for seven different clubs and not long ago seemed in danger of fading into obscurity, but Reynolds is proving there’s still an abundance of pop in his bat. We’ll see if he joins teammates Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Greg Holland in Miami.

Official Final Vote Hashtag: #BeLikeMike

Next: Red and Blue

Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

Like Bour, Rendon and Reynolds, Justin Turner is aiming for the first All-Star Game of his nine-year career. He had a solid case the last couple seasons but fell short. Making it this time could depend on whether voters choose to penalize him for playing in significantly fewer games than his competitors.

The 32-year-old Turner has appeared in 59 games after missing time with a hamstring injury. However, when he has been on the field, it’s difficult to ignore the numbers he’s producing. Though he doesn’t yet qualify for the batting title, Turner is hitting a scorching .382 in 251 plate appearances. Overall, he is slashing .382/.472/.557 with seven home runs and 31 RBI on the year.

The power and RBI production might be down a bit from a year ago, but you can’t complain when you’re collecting a base hit in nearly four out of every 10 at-bats. Turner also brings competent defense to the table with six defensive runs saved and a 12.4 UZR/150 at third base.

Next: The case for each NL Final Vote candidate

The Dodgers are baseball’s hottest team after winning 20 of their last 24 games, but closer Kenley Jansen recently scolded fans for not voting any of their players into the starting lineup. Turner can’t change that, but he can bolster the club’s ranks further by winning the Final Vote and joining Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger at the Midsummer Classic.

Official Final Vote Hashtag: #VoteJT