Aaron Judge Extends Batting Lead as Yankees Surge Toward Playoffs

Aaron Judge continues to pull away in the American League batting race, collecting three more hits last night as the Yankees powered past the Twins 10-5. Judge has racked up nine hits on the current road trip and Trent Grisham added two home runs as New York took two out of three in Minnesota, dropping their magic number for a postseason berth to seven according to highlights on YES Network. Cody Bellinger chipped in with a three-run homer, decisive in giving the Yankees a comfortable lead heading into Baltimore.

In the National League, Blake Snell delivered seven dominant scoreless innings and struck out 11 as the Dodgers shut out the Phillies 5-0 in Los Angeles. The victory prevented a Phillies sweep, left their own magic number unchanged, and kept the Dodgers ahead of the Padres in the division race. Shohei Ohtani blasted his 51st home run, powering the Dodgers’ offense and making a strong push in the MVP conversation. For the Phillies, it marked their tenth shutout loss of the season.

Elsewhere, the Toronto Blue Jays were stymied in St. Petersburg, falling 2-1 to Tampa Bay. Kevin Gausman fanned six across six strong innings, but Toronto’s bats never got going and one late Rays rally sealed the game. This loss prevented the Blue Jays from sweeping the Rays in a crucial Wild Card showdown.

Out West, Manny Machado delivered the big blow for the Padres with his 14th career grand slam as San Diego beat the New York Mets. The grand slam is the most among active players, and it keeps the Padres in striking distance in both the division and Wild Card races. Juan Soto also matched his career high with his 41st home run for New York in a losing effort.

In Atlanta, rookie starter Hurston Waldrep struck out eight to lead the Braves over the Nationals as Atlanta continues to push for a division title. In the Rockies’ clubhouse, manager Warren Schaeffer discussed disappointment after Miami rallied late to drop Colorado even further out of the race. Marlins’ pitching continues to be a storyline, limiting the Rockies’ offense in this one.

Notably, Cal Raleigh’s historic season for Seattle is receiving extra attention this week, with the Mariners’ catcher now among all-time leaders in home runs by a catcher for a single year. As the playoff picture sharpens, the AL West remains tight, and upcoming head-to-head series could prove decisive.

Heading into the weekend, major races to watch include the Yankees in Baltimore aiming to clinch, the Dodgers and Padres separated by only two games, and Toronto facing must-win matchups against division rivals to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt. No major trades or league-altering roster moves were reported overnight, and key injury updates are expected later today as medical evaluations conclude ahead of the next crucial series.

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