The case for a trio of all- stars: Arenado, Story and Marquez

With less than a month to go before the All- Star Game in Cleveland, this year’s fan balloting is in full swing to decide each league’s positional starters.

Here’s my case for three Colorado players who should be chosen, plus two on- the- bubble outfielders and the pair of darkhorse candidates worthy of a look. Included is a look at how the players are faring in the first balloting update at their respective position, which came out Tuesday.

Nolan Arenado is a lock to make his fifth consecutive all- star game and make his third consecutive start. The third baseman is on pace for his best offensive season yet with a .329 average, 17 home runs, and 57 RBIs. He’s also playing eye- popping, Gold Glove defense on a nightly basis. ( First

Trevor Story should definitely be an all- star for the second year in a row, and the only legitimate question is whether he or the Cubs’ Javier Baez should start. Story continues to prove his historic power at the shortstop position is no fluke, with his 15 homers and 43 RBIs this season ( as compared to Baez’s 16 homers and 44 RBIs). Why the edge to Story? As flashy and speedy as Baez is, he’s no base- stealing thief like Story, as Baez has two steals compared to Story’s 11, best among National League shortstops. ( Fourth with 243,550

German Marquez has had stumbles, yes, but the bottom line is the right- hander is among the most talented and most dominant starting pitchers in the National League. Pitchers are chosen by a combination of the player ballot results and the commissioner’s office, so expect the 24- year- old to be in contention for his first all- star nod. With a 4.19 ERA, however, he’s a bubble candidate and will have to pitch well the rest of June to have a chance.

Charlie Blackmon heated up after a slow start, and he didn’t let a calf injury that landed him on the 10- day injured list derail his recent offensive momentum. The three- time all- star is hitting .303 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs, and his .936 OPS ranks fourth among all NL outfielders. Even with a move to right field in which his defense has fallen off noticeably, particularly his range, the 32- year- old is still one of baseball’s toughest outs.

David Dahl is having the season everyone expected after the outfielder forced his way into the Rockies’ starting lineup last fall. Dahl doesn’t have a national brand yet, so it will be hard for him to gain momentum in the fan vote, but his numbers don’t lie. The 25- year- old’s .329 average is tied with Arenado’s for the best on the team and is sixth in the NL, and he has also flashed some power ( six homers) while being rated the ninth- best outfielder in the NL based off Statcast’s outs above average metric.

Tony Wolters is having a marvelous turnaround season. His .170 average in 2018 has been followed with a .302 average in 2019 that’s the best among all NL catchers. With one longball, he has shown little power compared to other all- star candidates such as the Cubs’ Willson Contreras, the Brewers’ Yasmani Grandal and the Phillies’ J. T. Realmuto — all of whom have double- digit homers — but when you factor in Wolters’ plus- defense, the Colorado backstop deserves at least consideration as a reserve. ( Seventh

Scott Oberg has been the heartbeat of the Colorado bullpen with a 1.84 ERA in 29L innings, with the bulk of his work coming in high- leverage situations in the eighth and ninth. The right- hander’s .160 opponent batting average ranks seventh among all NL relievers, and he’s allowed only two home runs. But even if he’s lights out the rest of June, Oberg is a longshot to make the team, as Colorado relievers don’t tend to get much respect in the all- star process ( see: Adam Ottavino last year).

At last season’s all- star game in Washington, D. C., the Rockies tied a franchise high with three representatives: Arenado, Story and Blackmon. There’s a chance they could duplicate that this year.