Aaron Judge joins favorites by carrying Yankees
Aaron Judge is back in the AL MVP race, and he’s making a statement. Since his return from a right hip strain, Judge has hit 12 homers, 20 walks, maintained a .342 average, and a 1.356 OPS in just 21 games. This has propelled Judge to the lead in homers (18) and OPS (1.089) for the American League while also placing him second in Fangraphs’ Wins Above Replacement and sixth in Baseball Reference’s calculation. Judge’s resurgence has enabled him to rejoin a crowded AL MVP front-runner group that includes last year’s winner, Shohei Ohtani, members of the Rays’ lineup, the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman, the Rangers’ Marcus Semien, and the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman.
Judge’s performance has been remarkable, but his absence for roughly one-sixth of the season might cost him. However, Judge has shown how vital he is to the Yankees’ success. In 47 starts, the Yankees have a 29-18 record, with Judge hitting one homer in Yankee losses and 17 in their victories. Judge’s success has relied heavily on the performance of his team, but it is vital to note his exceptional value to the Yankees.
FAQs:
Q: Who are the other AL MVP contenders?
A: The AL MVP race includes Shohei Ohtani, members of the Rays’ lineup, Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman from the Blue Jays, Marcus Semien from the Rangers, and Adley Rutschman from the Orioles.
Q: Does Aaron Judge’s absence cost him a chance at winning the MVP?
A: Yes, Judge’s absence for ten games this season may impact his chances of winning the AL MVP award.
Q: Who are the preeminent first basemen in the NL?
A: Freddie Freeman and Paul Goldschmidt have been the preeminent first basemen in the NL for the past decade.
Q: What are the career statistics of Freeman and Goldschmidt?
A: Freeman has a slash line of .300/.387/.512 with 302 homers, a 141 OPS-plus, and 51.9 WAR (Baseball Reference), while Goldschmidt has a slash line of .295/.391/.526 with 325 homers, a 145 OPS-plus, and 60.4 WAR.
Q: What is the difference between Freeman and Goldschmidt?
A: Freeman has been the champ for several years and feels like the go-to guy for big situations, while Goldschmidt is a tough out but might not be as clutch as Freeman.

Aaron Judge lifts Yankees to favorites status with impressive performance.
The AL MVP race just got more interesting with the return of Aaron Judge. In the 21 games since he came back from a right hip strain, Judge has hit 12 homers, drawn 20 walks, and had a batting average of .342 with a 1.356 OPS. This has propelled him to the lead in homers (18) and OPS (1.089) in the AL, earning him a spot in the front-runner group for the MVP. The competition for the MVP title includes Shohei Ohtani from the Angels, Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman from the Blue Jays, Marcus Semien from the Rangers, Adley Rutchsman from the Orioles, and Mike Trout from the Angels. Judge’s absence for 10 games due to injury may harm his chances as he missed one-sixth of the season, but his remarkable performances cannot be denied. Judge is the crux of the Yankees’ offense, and the team’s win-loss record depends heavily on his performance. In Judge’s 47 starts, the Yankees have a record of 29-18. While Judge is an undisputed favorite, he faces tough competition from other players who are also having an exceptional season. The NL All-Star ballot presents a tough decision for first basemen, given the extraordinary performances of Pete Alonso and Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman’s OPS-leading skills, and Paul Goldschmidt’s well-rounded expertise. Freeman and Goldschmidt have been the preeminent first basemen in the league for the past decade, essentially taking the baton from Albert Pujols. They have won two of the past three NL MVP awards and have set the standard for first-base play.