Red Sox All-Stars: 2018 MLB ballots are open for voting

The ballots are open for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. Vote for your favorite Boston Red Sox players to send them to the Midsummer Classic.

The ballots are live! Time to vote for your favorite Boston Red Sox players to start in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.

Voting began on Friday, June 1 and runs through Thursday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m. E.T.  Fans can go online to vote at MLB.com using their computer, tablet or smartphone.  You can vote a maximum of 35 times with a limit of 5 times during any 24 hour period.

Mookie Betts is a virtual lock to secure one of the starting outfield spots. He’s the front-runner in the AL MVP race, leading the league with a .359 average, .750 SLG, 1.187 OPS, and 52 runs scored.

Left fielder Andrew Benintendi should have a strong case for making his first All-Star appearance, although it may be a longshot for him to be voted in as a starter. The crop of outfielders in the AL is loaded. Betts will most likely be joined by Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the starting outfield.

Judge and Betts are both right fielders but one of them will presumably shift to left for the All-Star Game. Benny isn’t going to start ahead of either by virtue of primarily playing left. Fans vote for three outfielders, regardless of their specific spot in the outfield.

J.D. Martinez is another surefire All-Star but he faces steep competition in the DH spot from Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees slugger got off to a slow start in his debut season in the Bronx and doesn’t deserve to start over Martinez. However, he’s still a reigning MVP and has the benefit of a strong Yankees fan base backing him.

It will be interesting to see how Shohei Ohtani is treated in the All-Star Game. Is he a hitter or a pitcher? The game is played under AL rules with a DH, so he may not get the chance to hit if he’s added to the team as a pitcher. Fans don’t vote for pitchers so the only way they can cast his name on the ballot is as a DH. If he gets voted in as the starting DH, he probably won’t pitch. Either way, the rookie sensation should be in this game.

Martinez clearly has the superior numbers but the buzz surrounding Ohtani and a strong following in Japan could carry the Angels rookie to a starting role.

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Xander Bogaerts has been great this season but shortstop is arguably the most loaded position in the league. It will be difficult for him to beat out Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa. Missing time with a DL stint isn’t helping Xander’s case either.

Don’t forget about Mitch Moreland. The veteran was splitting time at first base until the release of Hanley Ramirez opened up more playing time. Mitchy Two Bags has been outstanding when he’s been in the lineup. In a week crop of AL first basemen, a case can be made that he deserves to start.

Those are the only position players who should be worthy of consideration but who says that you can’t vote for Jackie Bradley, Rafael Devers or Brock Holt? Being a fan doesn’t mean you have to be rational. Remember when the Kansas City Royals fans nearly voted their entire starting lineup into the All-Star Game? If the structure of the voting process allows it, fans can and will take advantage.

The Red Sox will almost certainly be represented by Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel as well but the pitchers won’t appear on the fan ballot.

Next: Betts, Trout on track for greatest MVP race

Several of these players will make the All-Star team one way or another. If they are going to make it into the starting lineup then they need your help! So get out and vote today, tomorrow and every day until you hit the limit.