This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals seem to have a T-shirt for every occasion, and they broke out a new one for their pregame work before each game against the Guardians this weekend.

Get Out The Vote. All-Star voting, that is.

One version of the T-shirt features shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and catcher Salvador Perez wearing cowboy hats -- a nod to this year’s MLB All-Star Game being in Arlington, home of the Rangers -- and the words “VOTE JUNIOR AND SAL.” Behind them is a pair of King playing cards. Underneath is the phrase “Two of a Kind.”

Witt and Perez were both voted All-Star starter finalists in Phase 1 of fan voting. They moved on to Phase 2, which runs through 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday. Witt finished second in Phase 1 to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, while Perez finished second to Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman.

Phase 2 will determine who starts the All-Star Game at each position, and the results will be announced on Wednesday live on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT.

Fans may vote once per day during Phase 2, with the daily voting limit resetting each day at 11 p.m. CT.

The pitchers and reserves for both squads will be determined via “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office. The complete All-Star rosters will be announced at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN on July 7.

“[Witt and Perez] are definitely both worthy [of starting],” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “As far as whether the votes turn their way or not, I know they’re behind in balloting, but they’re certainly worthy starters. … They carry us not only on the field, but in the clubhouse as well. They’re leaders, workers, guys who care about the organization first and foremost and about winning. And they represent everything they should as far as what it means to be an All-Star on and off the field.”

Whether he starts or not, Witt is likely looking at his first All-Star nod, and he’ll get to play near his hometown of Colleyville, Texas, just 10 miles north of Globe Life Field. The 24-year-old is slashing .312/.363/.534.

“It’s pretty cool, because it’s always something that you dream of, to be an All-Star,” Witt said. “It’s pretty special, but it’s one of those things that you can’t really control, so you just have to go out there and keep trying to perform and help the team each and every day.”

Perez is vying for his ninth All-Star nod. It's fitting that the Royals' captain and veteran All-Star could be bringing along Kansas City’s budding young superstar shortstop to his first Midsummer Classic. The past, present and future all wrapped up in two faces of the franchise.

Perez relishes every All-Star Game he’s been to and is grateful to be part of it every year.

“It means I’m doing a pretty good job,” Perez said, shrugging while laughing. “No, it’s special. All thanks to God for helping me with that, the way I think about baseball, the way I prepare myself, all that. I work hard every day. I’m very thankful for it.”

More than anything, though, Perez wants his teammates to experience the All-Star Game. He made a strong case for Witt’s All-Star candidacy, and also for two other Royals teammates to get their first All-Star nod. Which brings us to another version of the T-shirt worn this weekend.

Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans are featured on this one, in cowboy hats, of course, with a pair of aces behind them. Underneath are the words “We see your pitchers… and we’ll raise you two aces.” Lugo ranks first in the American League in wins (11) and ERA (2.17) after Sunday's win. Ragans ranks 16th in the AL with a 3.33 ERA after his start on Saturday.

“I was talking to my mom the other day, and she said, ‘You want to go?’” Perez said. “And I said, ‘If I go, we’ll go, and it’s good. But nothing will make me happier [than] to see my teammates who have never been to the All-Star Game to go and have that experience.’ And she said, ‘You always think about other people!’ I thought that was funny. But hopefully, we all get to go.

“Because in the last couple of years, just one guy from Kansas City went. And now, there could be a few. People are understanding, when you’re winning, a lot of good things can happen. That’s what it means to be in the big leagues. It’s about winning.”