Don't stop voting: http://t.co/kFj5qMJvPc pic.twitter.com/T1ywAzNhy7
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 7, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Last year’s National League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award-winner is one of this year’s NL All-Star Game Final Vote candidates.
Despite leading the league in strikeouts, strikeout rate and xFIP and being second in the NL in wins above replacement, Clayton Kershaw’s All-Star chances in 2015 depend on him winning the fan vote for the final spot on the roster.
Voting takes place now through 1 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Click here to vote. you can also vote on Twitter beginning at 7 a.m. Pacific on Friday.
Fans can now begin to vote an unlimited number of times for Kershaw to be the final player selected to the National League’s 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Voting is available online at dodgers.com/vote and, in addition to the web, fans can use their mobile phones to cast votes via text message. To receive the ballot, text the word “VOTE” to 89269 or to vote for a specific player, fans can text the choice to 89269 (Kershaw: N3). Standard message and data rates may apply. Text “STOP” to end and “HELP” for information. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010.
Kershaw’s competition is Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, Mets reliever Jeurys Familia, Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez and Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. The Dodgers are promoting the vote for Kershaw with the hashtag #MVPtoASG. For six hours beginning at 7 a.m. Pacific on Friday, the final day of voting, tweets with that hashtag will also count as votes.
The last time the Dodgers had anyone in the All-Star Final Vote was 2013, when both Adrian Gonzalez and rookie Yasiel Puig were contenders, and probably split the vote to allow Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman to win. Andre Ethier lost in the 2011 Final Vote, but was selected anyway as an injury replacement, and Matt Kemp fell short in 2009.
Nomar Garciaparra (2006) is the only Dodger to win the Final Vote since it was established in 2002 under the name, “The All-Star 30th Man.”
Don Bright
I would prefer he stays home and rest and can pitch the first game back from the break. Especially since Greinke won’t be able to go until the 3rd game (and break up He and Kershaw going back to back anyway). I would hope they go Kershaw, Bolsinger, Greinke, Anderson, pitcher X, after the break.