Aaron Judge Leads AL MVP Race Over Cal Raleigh Amid Final 12 Games

As the 2025 MLB regular season enters its final month, the American League MVP race is intensely competitive, primarily between New York Yankees' Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh. Judge, despite a mid-season injury, remains the frontrunner with a .324 batting average, 43 home runs, and a 7.4 WAR, showcasing his offensive dominance as a designated hitter. Raleigh, meanwhile, has had a historic season for a catcher, hitting 50 home runs and breaking Salvador Perez's single-season home run record for catchers while catching 103 games. The upcoming 12 games are critical, with Judge facing tough opponents and Raleigh potentially challenging Judge's AL record of 62 home runs. Analysts using advanced metrics highlight Judge's comprehensive offensive value and Raleigh's unique power-hitting prowess, making this one of the closest MVP contests in recent memory. Additionally, the tight AL playoff race adds further significance to their performances down the stretch.