VOTE NOW: Gallo, Pence on Starters ballot

With time running out in the All-Star Starters Election, many races are still too close to call, and your votes will have a huge impact as most position battles have yet to be decided.

• VOTE NOW: Google MLB All-Star Ballot

Here's a look at who's leading as of 1:30 p.m. CT on Thursday.

DESIGNATED HITTER
1) Hunter Pence (Rangers): 46.8%
2) J.D. Martinez (Red Sox): 31.4%
3) Nelson Cruz (Twins): 21.8%

OUTFIELD
1) Mike Trout (Angels): 25.8%
2) George Springer (Astros): 15.7%
3) Michael Brantley (Astros): 10.8%
4) Aaron Judge (Yankees): 9.8%
5) Mookie Betts (Red Sox): 9.0%
6) Eddie Rosario (Twins): 8.9%
7) Joey Gallo (Rangers): 7.7%
8) Austin Meadows (Rays): 6.5%
9) Josh Reddick (Astros): 5.8%

• Complete standings coverage

Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo and designated hitter Hunter Pence are finalists to be starters on the American League All-Star team.

Gallo was ninth among the nine outfielders and Pence was second among designated hitters after the primary round of The Starters Election. Gallo made the finals along with Mookie Betts, George Springer, Mike Trout, Michael Brantley, Aaron Judge, Austin Meadows, Josh Reddick and Eddie Rosario.

Gallo received 904,563 votes to just edge out Max Kepler of the Twins for the last spot by 138 votes. Kepler received 904,425 votes. Trout led all American League outfielders with 3,370,499 votes.

Pence received 1,054,282 votes, trailing J.D. Martinez with 1,564,520 votes and leading Nelson Cruz. The former Ranger finished third with 974,788 votes. Pence started 27 games at designated hitter, 16 in left and four in right before going on the injured list with a strained right groin muscle.

The Starters Election began at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday, with fans voting during a 28-hour window that ends at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday. During this second phase of voting, in which fans can vote once on MLB platforms and submit up to 17 unique player votes on Google, vote totals will reset (i.e., vote totals from “The Primary” do not carry over), and the winner at each position (including three outfielders per League) will be named a starting position player for the 2019 Midsummer Classic.

Results of The Starters Election will be announced on Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN’s “Google MLB All-Star Election Night.” All-Star pitchers and reserves will be named Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT on the Google MLB All-Star Selection Show, also on ESPN.

Gallo, who was activated off the injured list on Tuesday, is hitting .273 with a .422 on-base percentage and a .642 slugging percentage. Over 52 games, he has hit 17 home runs with 42 RBIs. This would be his first trip to the All-Star Game.

“He’s one of the top three or four players in baseball,” manager Chris Woodward said. “Not only offensively, but he is trying to prove to the league he’s not just an offensive Happy Gilmore-type home run hitter. He gets on base, he plays center field, he throws people out, he runs the bases, he’s really trying to get rid of that idea that he’s just a one-trick pony. His numbers are phenomenal.”

Pence is looking for his fourth trip to the All-Star Game. He went in 2009 and ’11 with the Astros and again in 2014 while with the Giants. But another trip to the All-Star Game did not seem like a possibility coming into this season.

Pence hit .226 with a .258 on-base percentage and a .332 slugging percentage for the Giants last season while being limited to 97 games because of a strained right thumb. Texas signed him to a Minor League contract just before Spring Training, and he made the team only as a fourth outfielder.

Pence has been more than that for the Rangers. He played in 55 games before going on the injured list, and he is hitting .294 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, a .353 on-base percentage and a .608 slugging percentage.

“He deserves it, man,” Woodward said. “I can look at the numbers, he is one of the better hitters in baseball. I can only speak to what he does for our organization. His impact on our clubhouse, there is not a more impactful player that I have ever been around, and that is saying a lot. I value a lot of things in players, and he is at the top of the list in my regard. He is very deserving."

The 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will be played on Tuesday, July 9, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. During the game, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.