Dave Roberts Disappointed By Dodgers Fans With MLB All-Star Game Voting

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 13: National League Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during player introductions ahead of the 91st MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field on July 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers annually lead all MLB teams in home attendance and in recent years have consistently finished with one of the best records in baseball, but that hasn’t always translated to having a strong showing in the All-Star Game.

Phase 1 of 2024 MLB All-Star Game voting closed on Thursday, and the Dodgers only had Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández advance to the second round. Although Betts remain eligible to be voted in as the starting National League shortstop, he’s going to miss the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field because of a left hand fracture.

The Dodgers nevertheless figure to have multiple participants in the 94th Midsummer Classic, even if they weren’t carried through by fan voting thus far.

When discussing the outlook for his players, manager Dave Roberts called on Dodgers fans to get more proactive with MLB All-Star Game voting, via SportsNet LA:

“It’s interesting, because a lot of it is based on popularity and certain fanbases that are more active voting. My encouragement for Dodgers fans is to get off your hands and start voting for your players. Because you look at all these other fanbases, the players aren’t nearly having the seasons that our guys are having, and they’re leading the fan voting. So that’s what’s disappointing for me as a manager, because the players are not going to promote themselves. So it’s about the fans supporting their players.”

As it currently stands, Betts (shortstop), Ohtani (designated hitter) and Hernández (outfield) are on track to be voted 2024 All-Star Game starters.

Will Smith finished third in voting among NL catchers, and Freddie Freeman placed among first basemen. Freeman normally would have advanced to Phase 2 as well, but Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper was the leading vote-getter among all NL players, giving him a guaranteed starting spot and skipping the second round.

Harper did suffer a potential hamstring injury on Thursday night, which could open the door for Freeman to start at first base. Freeman and Smith figured to make the NL All-Star team by way of player voting.

MLB All-Star Game voting

The second phase of voting begins on Sunday, June 30, at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Phase 2 of All-Star Game voting, which is available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 club web sites, MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App, will give fans an opportunity to vote among the finalists at each position during a window that concludes at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3.

Later that night, the winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN during an All-Star Game starters reveal live show.

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