MLB All-Star Voting 2015: Projecting Leaders and Final Results

It seems like the baseball season just started, yet the MLB All-Star Game is right around the corner. As usual, MLB has been taking input from fans on which players will get to start the Midsummer Classic on July 14.

The polls have since closed, and per MLB.com, the rosters will be unveiled on Sunday, July 5 and Monday, July 6. Here's a look at the polling results as of June 29, courtesy of MLB Communications:

One thing that stands out here is the fan support the Kansas City Royals are getting. Royals fans came out in force to vote, leaving a Royals player either in first or second for each position. 

Some players aren't happy with how the voting has gone thus far. Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz voiced his displeasure with the process to WEEI scribe Rob Bradford.

"

I know that MLB always wants to get the fans involved in this because as a fan you want to see your favorite players. But the reality is the way I know All-Star Games are for whomever is playing the best in the first half. Now you see all these things that’s happening with Kansas City and their players. I saw that coming. I saw that coming a long time ago. I knew it was going to happen.

"

One of the most glaring examples of deserving players getting bypassed is at second base. According to the polling from MLB, Omar Infante is leading the way at second base. However, Infante is only hitting .233 with a .239 OBP and a 0.3 WAR.

Conversely, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros (.303 BA, 7 HR, 35 RBI, .348 OBP, 2.2 WAR) and Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians (.344 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI, .420 OBP, 4.9 WAR) are having demonstrably better seasons than Infante.

There are few close races in the National League, but one was coming down to the wire as of the latest results. Both Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals and Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds had about 6.2 million votes apiece, making it difficult to predict who will come out on top.

Matt Carpenter	.279 BA	8 HR	38 RBI	.381 OBP	1.6 WAR
Todd Frazier	.281 BA	25 HR	54 RBI	.341 OBP	3.7 WAR

At a glance, it looks like Frazier deserves the nod over Carpenter. Frazier has more impressive power numbers, and his WAR is more than double that of Carpenter. Considering Cincinnati is hosting the All-Star Game, expect Reds fans to push Frazier over the top and get the start on his home field.

Let's now have a look at the rest of the projected starters in the field as well as a prediction for each team's starting pitcher.

American League

1B: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

2B: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

3B: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

SS: Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals

OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

OF: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals

OF: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

C: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

P: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

National League

1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

2B: Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins

3B: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds

SS: Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals

OF: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

OF: Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals

OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

P: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

With Giancarlo Stanton, Nori Aoki and Miguel Cabrera on the shelf, we are figuring they won't be playing in this game and will be replaced by Matt Holliday, Andrew McCutchen and Eric Hosmer respectively. Luckily we won't have to wait long to see the voting results, and then we can start discussing the biggest snubs.

Who do you think deserves to start the All-Star Game? Sound off in the comments below.