NL All-Star primary ballot update June 11

Read our FAQ on this year’s revamped balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters, and the ability to vote through Google Search.

• VOTE NOW: Google MLB All-Star Ballot

The Dodgers may be setting the pace in the National League standings, but it's the Cubs that took center stage in the initial NL update of the 2019 Google MLB All-Star Ballot released on Tuesday.

With the top three vote-getters at each position -- or top nine in the outfield -- advancing to the next round of voting for next month's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, the Cubs are currently in position to send seven players through to The Starters Election, which will take place over a 28-hour period starting at noon ET on June 26. Chicago has the leading vote-getter at catcher and shortstop, while also boasting the No. 2 player at first base and third base, and three of the top nine outfielders.

Most surprisingly perhaps, is a pair of players who would not be going through to the next round of voting. While many fans were locked in on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado this offseason, they have not locked those players into their ballots thus far. Machado is currently sixth among third basemen, while Harper has some work to do just to make his way into the all-important top nine.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the first balloting returns:

CATCHER

Willson Contreras, Cubs -- 850,613
Brian McCann, Braves -- 269,963
J.T. Realmuto, Phillies -- 206,442
Yadier Molina, Cardinals -- 202,401
Yasmani Grandal, Brewers -- 195,922
Austin Barnes, Dodgers -- 183,692
Tony Wolters, Rockies -- 96,117
Buster Posey, Giants -- 79,768
Wilson Ramos, Mets -- 78,957
Francisco Cervelli, Pirates -- 54,395

No player holds a larger lead at any position -- in either league -- than Willson Contreras. Though he is currently the runaway leader at catcher in the NL, it's important to remember that the top three vote-getters at each position will advance to the next round of voting. Thus, it's actually an incredibly close race at this position, with Brian McCann and J.T. Realmuto rounding out the top three, but Yadier Molina, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes all sitting within striking distance.

FIRST BASE

Josh Bell, Pirates -- 621,915
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs -- 461,210
Freddie Freeman, Braves -- 406,283
Max Muncy, Dodgers -- 232,583
Pete Alonso, Mets -- 157,347
Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals -- 121,546
Rhys Hoskins, Phillies -- 109,680
Eric Hosmer, Padres -- 85,256
Jesus Aguilar, Brewers -- 79,024
Joey Votto, Reds -- 60,985

Josh Bell is looking to continue his breakout season by earning not only his first All-Star Game start, but his first All-Star selection, period. He's currently holding off a pair of three-time All-Stars in Anthony Rizzo and Freddie Freeman, who started last year's contest. Those three have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, though Max Muncy and Pete Alonso could still make a charge.

SECOND BASE

Ozzie Albies, Braves -- 424,467
Mike Moustakas, Brewers -- 377,983
Ketel Marte, D-backs -- 327,269
Cesar Hernandez, Phillies -- 265,608
Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers -- 244,589
Daniel Descalso, Cubs -- 185,781
Robinson Cano, Mets -- 100,473
Kolten Wong, Cardinals -- 84,517
Brian Dozier, Nationals -- 68,957
Adam Frazier, Pirates -- 58,785

This is one of the most closely contested positions, with Albies' vote total by far the lowest among any leading vote-getter in the NL. That's not a knock on Albies, but instead the result of fans spreading out their votes to a number of worthy candidates. This is the only infield position in the NL at which five players have at least 200,000 votes. All five of those players are seeking their first career All-Star start, though Albies was an All-Star last year and Moustakas has a pair of All-Star selections, both in the AL and both as a third baseman.

THIRD BASE

Nolan Arenado, Rockies -- 783,684
Kris Bryant, Cubs -- 404,855
Justin Turner, Dodgers -- 273,586
Josh Donaldson, Braves -- 206,588
Anthony Rendon, Nationals -- 178,215
Manny Machado, Padres -- 118,244
Eduardo Escobar, D-backs -- 75,493
Eugenio Suarez, Reds -- 69,052
Matt Carpenter, Cardinals -- 66,397
Travis Shaw, Brewers -- 57,915

Nolan Arenado appears to be in the driver's seat for a third straight All-Star Game start at third base, but Kris Bryant won't go quietly. Arenado has four career All-Star selections overall, including starts in 2017 and '18, while Bryant is a two-time All-Star and started at the hot corner in '16. As for the battle for the all-important top three, Justin Turner is currently holding off Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rendon, while Padres newcomer Manny Machado sits in sixth place.

SHORTSTOP

Javier Baez, Cubs -- 861,496
Dansby Swanson, Braves -- 286,802
Corey Seager, Dodgers -- 257,085
Trevor Story, Rockies -- 243,550
Jean Segura, Phillies -- 138,716
Paul DeJong, Cardinals -- 111,590
Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres -- 108,680
Orlando Arcia, Brewers -- 91,594
Jose Iglesias, Reds -- 81,091
Trea Turner, Nationals -- 66,036

Javier Baez has a stranglehold on the top spot at shortstop, so the question is seemingly who will he need to hold off in the next round of voting? As it stands now, Dansby Swanson has the second most votes thanks to his breakout performance to this point, but he has plenty of star power sitting right behind him. Two-time All-Star Corey Seager is in third, while Trevor Story -- a 2018 All-Star -- checks in at fourth. Phillies shortstop Jean Segura, a two-time All-Star himself, rounds out the top five.

OUTFIELD

Cody Bellinger, Dodgers -- 1,189,380
Christian Yelich, Brewers -- 1,057,855
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves -- 518,760
Joc Pederson, Dodgers -- 344,440
Albert Almora Jr., Cubs -- 294,445
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies -- 278,070
Jason Heyward, Cubs -- 270,745
Kyle Schwarber, Cubs -- 252,557
Alex Verdugo, Dodgers -- 242,988
Bryce Harper, Phillies -- 242,719
Nick Markakis, Braves -- 232,995
Juan Soto, Nationals -- 161,939
Melky Cabrera, Pirates -- 135,216
Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals -- 135,089
Andrew McCutchen, Phillies -- 125,927
Ender Inciarte, Braves -- 125,442
Lorenzo Cain, Brewers -- 120,140
Jeff McNeil, Mets -- 96,632
Scott Kingery, Phillies -- 93,825
Ryan Braun, Brewers -- 87,718

Only two players across the Majors have received more than one million votes and they both reside in the National League outfield. Current MVP favorite Cody Bellinger is setting the pace, while reigning MVP Christian Yelich isn't far behind. Both players have more than twice as many votes as any other NL outfielder. As Bellinger and Yelich battle it out atop the ballot, the race to watch will be for the top nine vote-getters, all of whom advance to the next round of voting. As it stands now, that group would not include Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper, who is 10th among NL outfielders. That said, Harper is just 269 votes behind the No. 9 spot, currently occupied by Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Fans may vote in "The Primary" at MLB.com and all 30 club sites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark apps up to five times in any 24-hour period. Fans in the US and Canada can also vote on Google Search for every position, or up to 17 unique players per day, by searching "MLB Vote" or the names of their favorite players. Primary voting ends at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 21.

The top three vote-getters at each position (including nine outfielders) per league will move on to "The Starters Election," which begins at noon ET on Wednesday, June 26. The votes will reset for a 28-hour voting window that ends at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Starters for the 2019 Midsummer Classic will be unveiled on ESPN that night at 7 ET. The pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Then on Tuesday, July 9, during the 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, 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.

The 90th Midsummer Classic, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, 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. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.

Fresh faces dot NL All-Star primary leaderboard