DETROIT -- The Tigers haven’t had multiple players in the All-Star Game starting lineup since Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer played for All-Star manager Jim Leyland in 2013. They haven’t had three All-Star starters, or multiple players voted into the starting lineup, since Iván "Pudge" Rodriguez, Magglio Ordóñez and Placido Polanco made it from the defending American League champions in 2007. This year’s Tigers have a legitimate chance. The first All-Star balloting update released earlier this week brought good news for Detroit fans. Gleyber Torres held an 85,986-vote lead over Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday among American League second basemen, while Riley Greene ranks second among AL outfielders, trailing only Aaron Judge. Meanwhile, Javier Báez ranks fifth, just 53,923 votes behind Mike Trout for the third outfield spot. • VOTE NOW: 2025 PRO SPIRIT MLB All-Star Ballot. Watch the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard July 15 on FOX It’s the most encouraging All-Star balloting the Tigers have seen in years. And with the current format, it has a chance to get even better. The first phase of voting runs until noon ET next Thursday, June 26. Then, the top two vote-getters at each position -- plus the top six outfielders -- move on to the second phase of voting to determine the starters. |
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Not only could Báez join Greene among the outfield finalists, Kerry Carpenter sits seventh, just 35,873 votes behind Cody Bellinger. However, that six-man group of outfield finalists could become just four if Judge holds on to the overall vote lead, which would guarantee him one of the three starting outfield spots. Dillon Dingler is within 54,059 votes of Alejandro Kirk for second among AL catchers, both well behind Seattle’s Cal Raleigh for the top spot. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry sit fourth in balloting at first and third base, respectively, both needing to make up a sizable gap to crack the top two. Torres has a chance to become the Tigers’ first All-Star starting second baseman since Polanco. The only other Tiger elected by fans to start at second base is Lou Whitaker, who started three in a row from 1984 to ‘86. |
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Amazingly, Greene is vying to become just the fifth Tigers outfielder voted into the All-Star lineup since fan balloting returned in 1970, joining Ordóñez, Chet Lemon (1984), Ron LeFlore (1976) and Rusty Staub (1976). Fans can continue voting up to five times per every 24-hour period in the current phase. Once the finalists are determined, Phase 2 of voting to determine the starters from the finalists runs from noon ET on June 30 to noon ET on July 2. Fans can vote once per day during this phase, and votes from the previous round don’t carry over, so finalists start from scratch. Winners will be revealed that evening at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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With two home runs on Tuesday, Báez became just the third active player with three career multihomer games against the Pirates. Paul Goldschmidt is one of the other two. Which of Báez’s former teammates is the other? A. Kris Bryant B. Michael Conforto C. Anthony Rizzo D. Kyle Schwarber |
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• Triple-A Toledo: The Mud Hens entered Thursday at 37-34, fifth in the International League’s West Division, after picking up back-to-back wins to begin their six-game trip to St. Paul. No. 6 prospect Hao-Yu Lee went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s 9-8 extra-innings win. Infielder Riley Unroe tossed the 10th and 11th innings that night to earn the victory. • Double-A Erie: The SeaWolves continue to hold on to a slim lead atop the Eastern League Southwest Division at 43-22, a half-game up on Akron entering the final days of the first-half race. No. 7 prospect Jaden Hamm tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings on one hit and three walks with five strikeouts in Wednesday’s 14-0 win over the Orioles-affiliated Chesapeake Baysox. No. 5 prospect Thayron Liranzo hit his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot, to go with a double and three walks, raising his OPS for June to .825. • High-A West Michigan: The Whitecaps entered Thursday with the Midwest League’s best record at 43-21, having already clinched a first-half division title and a spot in the postseason come September. No. 24 prospect Tyler Mattison, who’s recovering from March 2024 Tommy John surgery, continued his rehab assignment with a scoreless inning with two walks and two strikeouts in Tuesday’s 10-2 loss to Wisconsin. Mattison has allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings over five rehab appearances with the Whitecaps, walking four and striking out six. • Single-A Lakeland: The Flying Tigers clinched a first-half division title and a spot in the Florida State League playoffs by sweeping a doubleheader at Twins-affiliated Fort Myers on Wednesday. No. 11 prospect Franyerber Montilla went 5-for-8 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs in the doubleheader. Cristian Santana slugged his 10th home run of the season, and his fifth in his past five games, in a 6-1 win in the nightcap. |
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A. Kris Bryant Bryant has three two-homer games against the Buccos, all with the Cubs: April 15 and July 7, 2017, and Sept. 15, 2019. |
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