What happened: The Yankees are pushing fans to cast All-Star ballots up to five times daily ahead of the Phase 1 deadline. Voting for the opening round closes Thursday at noon, after which the field narrows for the next stage of the selection process.

Why it matters: Phase 1 placement shapes which players advance toward starting nods, and a strong turnout from a large fan base can meaningfully move a candidate's standing. For a club sitting at 46-30 and near the top of its division, maximizing votes is a way to convert on-field performance into All-Star recognition.

What to watch: Watch for the Phase 1 results once voting closes Thursday, which will set the finalist matchups for the next round of balloting.