As is customary this time of year, Atlanta Braves fans have really shown out in the first phase of voting for the 2026 All-Star Game. The Braves have five finalists and four of them are actually deserving of the honor, but even Austin Riley and Ha-Seong Kim got a lot of votes and their worthiness...well, leaves a lot to be desired. That Atlanta has put together such a strong showing in the vote so far speaks both to the amount of talent on this Braves roster and the reach of Braves Country, although that second part is being put to the test.
Yes, it is true that among MLB fanbases, Braves fans have a well-earned reputation for being somewhat rabid. That is particularly true when the team is playing well, as crowds flock to Truist Park and even road games to get a glimpse of what Atlanta is doing. It is an exciting and talented team, and fans want to watch them when they are playing to their potential.
However, it is fair to say that the Braves are not playing well right now and certainly not up to their potential. That could cause some problems if the Braves' ASG finalists want to get across the finish line.
Our All-Star Finalists 🤩
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 25, 2026
Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Ronald Acuña Jr. have all advanced! Phase 2 of All-Star voting begins June 29th! pic.twitter.com/yRdxiAI9AI
Braves poised for strong All-Star showing, but winning again would make that goal a lot easier
As much as people want to say that the All-Star vote is heavily merit-based, that is a lie. Yes, it helps quite a bit when a player is good, but the truth is that fan base size and enthusiasm dictate the results a lot when it comes to who starts and who doesn't. Combine that with the rule that each team needs to have one All-Star, and you have an imperfect system.
Where this matters is that while the Braves had five players in Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, and Matt Olson that got a gaggle of votes, that was largely when Atlanta was winning every night. Phase Two of the vote is starting now, and the Braves are in the middle of their worst stretch of the season by far. Baldwin has been brutally bad since coming off the IL, and Acuña Jr. is out with a hamstring injury again. When most of their competition is coming from players with huge fan bases like the Dodgers, Phillies, and Mets, you want fans to be excited to vote, and this slump isn't going to help matters nor is having guys out altogether.
Thankfully, MOST of the Braves' finalists are worthy contenders, and while the other finalists have a large supporter base, they also come from some of the most hated teams in baseball. Perhaps the Braves will start winning again and/or those that want the Dodgers to be said will show up in force. If not, however, this next phase of All-Star voting could be closer than Braves fans want it to be.
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