The MLB regular season is winding down, and while the focus of baseball fans will soon turn to the playoffs, there is another major storyline still unfolding as the schedule enters its final days.
Aaron Judge home run watch: Tracking every game for Yankees star as he chases history
Following the Yankees slugger in his pursuit of history
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and his pursuit of history.
Currently, Judge has tied the American League record of 61 home runs, set by former Yankees slugger Roger Maris during the 1961 season. While it is unlikely that Judge will catch the MLB record 73 set by Barry Bonds during the 2001 campaign, the Yankees outfielder is still on track to break Maris’ America League mark, and make some other history as well.
Here is a look at where Judge stands, as well as what he will face down the stretch.
Aaron Judge results game-by-game as star chases home run milestones
Tuesday, September 27 at Toronto Blue Jays
In five plate appearances against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Judge lined out, and was walked four times. He scored a pair of runs, however, as the Yankees beat Toronto by a final score of 5-2, clinching the AL East.
Wednesday, September 28 at Toronto Blue Jays
Aaron Judge has done it. Here’s home run No. 61, blasted off Blue Jays’ pitcher Tim Mayza:
Home run No. 61 ties the AL record for Judge.
Friday, September 30 vs. Baltimore Orioles
Judge went 1 for 2 against the Orioles on Friday night in New York’s 2-1 loss to Baltimore. He was also walked twice, and struck out.
Saturday, October 1 vs. Baltimore
In five plate appearances Saturday against the Orioles, Judge went 1-2 with a pair of walks in the Yankees’ 8-0 victory over Baltimore.
Sunday, October 2 vs. Baltimore
Judge went 0-3 with a trio of strikeouts against the Orioles Sunday in the final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium this season.
Monday, October 3 at Texas Rangers
Judge went 1-4 with a single in New York’s win over Texas in the opening game of a four-game series.
Tuesday, October 4 at Texas (Game 1)
Judge ripped a single in the eighth inning as the Yankees won the first game of their day-night doubleheader with Texas 5-4. It was his only hit in the game.
Tuesday, October 4 at Texas Rangers (Game 2)
Judge homered in the top of the first, breaking Maris’ record of 61 American League home runs set back in 1961. He was pulled from the game in the second inning.
Upcoming schedule and pitching probables
Wednesday, October 5 at Texas Rangers (4:05 p.m. ET)
Pitching Probable: Glenn Otto, RHP (6-10, 4.72 ERA, 102 SO, 20 HR)
Should Judge play in the final game of the regular season, this could be an opportunity to add to the new AL record. Otto, the young right-hander in just his second MLB season, has given up 20 home runs this year.
However, Judge does not have a hit against Otto in three at-bats over his career, with a strikeout.
How many home runs has Aaron Judge hit?
62 home runs with one game left in the season.
What are the MLB home run milestones Aaron Judge is chasing?
Judge has 62 home runs, which breaks Maris’ mark of 61 home runs, set back during the 1961 season.
Beyond that, Judge is putting together a magical season across the board. At the moment Judge is leading the major leagues in nearly every offensive category. Currently, Judge leads all of baseball in home runs (61), on-base percentage (.427), slugging percentage (.689), on-base plus slugging (1.116), adjusted OPS+ (212) and runs created (170). With his 61 home runs, Judge now stands 17 home runs head of Kyle Schwarber, who leads the National League with 44 home runs.
Judge is also tracking down an American League Triple Crown, given to a player who leads the league in batting average, home runs, and RBI. Miguel Cabrera was the last player to win the Triple Crown, back during his Most Valuable Player season of 2012, when he hit 44 home runs, knocked in 139 runs, and posted a batting average of .330.
But after his series with the Orioles, that task faces a tougher climb.
If the season were to end today, Judge would miss out on the AL Triple Crown. Judge currently has a batting average of .311 on the season, while Luis Arraez of the Minnesota Twins checks in at .315, and Xander Boegaerts of the Boston Red Sox has a batting average of .305 on the year. Judge was leading heading into the series with Baltimore, but Arraez’s six hits in his past three games, combined with Judge’s struggles against the Orioles, have seen the Minnesota infielder climb into the lead.
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