Questions Abound As Races Enter Home Stretch In All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored By Firestone

NEW YORK, July 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Will 2011 World Series MVP David Freese hold off Bryce Harper on the NL ballot? Can Yu Darvish complete a wire-to-wire victory or will the #TakeJake campaign push Jake Peavy past him? Which dark horse contender is well positioned to make a last day push? Could it be either Michael Bourn or Jonathan Broxton, who each moved up one spot? These are among the questions to be answered as fans continue to vote in record numbers in the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Firestone (#FinalVote).

Surprises will be in store for fans as the online voting approaches Thursday's furious finish at 4 p.m. (EDT). Club alliances, including Texas-Arizona, Chicago-St. Louis, Baltimore-Washington and Kansas City-Atlanta, and social support already have driven 30 million votes, making no lead safe. The current standings are:

American League
1. Yu Darvish (TEX) - #VoteYu (A2)
2. Jake Peavy (CWS) - #TakeJake (A5)
3. Jason Hammel (BAL) - #VoteHammel (A4)
4. Jonathan Broxton (KC) - #VoteBroxton (A1)
5. Ernesto Frieri (LAA) - #VoteFrieri (A3)

National League
1. David Freese (STL) - #FreesePlease (N2)
2. Bryce Harper (WSH) - #BryceIn12 (N3)
3. Michael Bourn (ATL) - #VoteBourn (N1)
4. Aaron Hill (ARI) - #FinHillVote (N4)

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones was removed from the ballot after he was named to the National League All-Star Team, replacing Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fans also can use their mobile phones to vote at MLB.com/vote or via text message. To receive the All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Firestone mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote for a specific player, fans can text the choice to 89269. EXAMPLE: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" to vote for NL Player 3. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010. Std rates may apply.

The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed.  Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT).  ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game.  MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.  For more information, please visit allstargame.com or royals.com/asg.

SOURCE MLB.com