Braves keep pace atop NL balloting

Three Atlanta Braves players still sit in position to start in next month’s All-Star Game, according to vote totals updated Monday.

Freddie Freeman is still the NL’s top vote-getter, securing nearly 2.2 million votes. He’s 1.2 million votes ahead of the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo for the starting first baseman’s pick.

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies widened his lead a bit at that position. He has 1.4 million votes, leading the Cubs’ Javier Baez by some 220,000 votes.

Nick Markakis continues to top NL outfielder balloting with 1.83 million votes. Former Braves and current Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp passed Washington’s Bryce Harper for second place, with Kemp coming in at 1.5 million votes.

Lee County native Buster Posey maintains his lead at catcher, with the Giants’ veteran leading the Cubs’ Willson Conteras by around 90,000 votes (1.04 million to 945,347).

San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford leads at shortstop, whiile Colorado’s Nolan Arenado leads the field at third base.

The Braves’ Dansby Swanson is in second in shortstop voting, well back of Crawford. Johan Camargo is in third in the third-base race, as is Kurt Suzuki at catcher.

Ronald Acuna and Ender Inciarte are fifth and sixth, respectively, in outfielder voting, with Acuna roughly 470,000 votes behind Harper.

AL totals will be updated today. Voting, which can be done at mlb.com, closes July 5.