What happened: The Philadelphia Phillies are urging fans to vote Kyle Schwarber into the All-Star Game, touting his torrid stretch at the plate. Schwarber has been the centerpiece of the lineup, recently launching another second-deck home run and pacing the majors in long balls. The campaign frames him as a clear choice to start at designated hitter.

Why it matters: A power surge from Schwarber strengthens Philadelphia's middle of the order as the regular season heads toward midseason. An All-Star nod would validate one of the league's most productive bats and reward a team coming off a series win. The push also rallies the fan base around a marquee individual storyline during the summer stretch.

What to watch: Watch whether Schwarber's numbers and the fan campaign earn him a starting designated hitter spot when All-Star rosters are finalized.