Dodger’s Shohei Ohtani leads the National League with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, while Yankees’ Aaron Judge paces the American League with 58 homers and 144 RBIs, further cementing their MVP-caliber campaigns. However, MLB insider Jon Morosi sees a difference in their teams’ motivation.
He along with MLB analysts Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recently discussed the postseason pressure facing two of baseball’s biggest stars. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees secured their 2024 division titles, with Ohtani and Judge delivering outstanding seasons.
On a recent episode of “Blair and Barker,” Morosi praised the Yankees for their strong team chemistry, while raising concerns about the Dodgers’ high payroll, elevated expectations, and a potentially shaky pitching staff heading into the playoffs.
“The Yankees have developed a really cool vibe, that I think is durable, and with the Dodgers, it’s so much money, so much expectations, and the [pitching] rotation is a gigantic shrug emoji at the moment,” he claimed. “I just think that’s not a great way to begin the postseason.”
Morosi weighed in on which player might be feeling more postseason pressure. He argued that Ohtani is likely under greater scrutiny, given his lack of playoff experience and the Dodgers’ recent postseason shortcomings. Morosi pointed out a sense of unease surrounding the Dodgers, contrasting it with the Yankees’ confidence and history in pressure-packed October games.
“I think Ohtani [is under more pressure to perform], just because he has never been in the postseason before,” Morosi explained. “Because of the Dodgers’ first round failings in the last couple years, there’s this almost palpable anxiety surrounding them. Whereas [for] the Yankees, they’re a little bit more at ease in the spotlight.”
Both Ohtani and Judge have continued to shine in recent games. Judge crushed his 58th home run in a 10-1 rout of the Baltimore Orioles, helping New York clinch their 21st AL East title. Fans at Yankee Stadium celebrated by chanting “MVP.”
Meanwhile, Ohtani belted his 54th homer in the Dodgers’ 11-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He also swiped his 57th base of the season, surpassing Ichiro Suzuki’s 2001 record for the most stolen bases by a Japanese-born player in a single season.
As both players head into the playoffs in peak form—Judge hitting .400 and Ohtani .591 over their last 10 games—fans are eagerly awaiting their postseason performances.
Yankees’ Judge on a history-making spree
Aaron Judge’s absence loomed large in the New York Yankees’ recent 4-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially after his dominant stretch of play. Judge had been on fire, homering in five consecutive games and notching his 58th home run of the season during that run.
On September 27, 2024, Judge made history as the first Yankees player to reach 58 home runs in a single season. The milestone came in a 10-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, a game that also clinched the AL East title for New York. Judge’s two-run homer in the seventh inning off Bryan Baker added to his league-leading 144 RBIs, the most in MLB since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008.
With his five-game homer streak, Judge joined the ranks of Yankees greats. Babe Ruth accomplished the feat in 1921, and Alex Rodriguez followed in 2007. Judge has now completed this achievement twice in his career, with the first streak occurring in 2022.
However, Judge’s streak fell short of the all-time Yankees record. That distinction belongs to Don Mattingly, who homered in eight straight games in 1987. Other Yankee legends like Lou Gehrig and Roger Maris managed six-game home run streaks in 1931 and 1961, respectively.
Judge’s recent power surge solidifies his place among the game’s top sluggers. His absence from the lineup in the loss to the Pirates only highlighted his critical role in the Yankees’ success, emphasizing just how vital he is to their offense.
Aaron Judge’s 2024 season has been extraordinary, with the Yankees slugger delivering standout numbers across 157 games. He has crushed 58 home runs and driven in 144 RBIs, along with 180 hits in 554 at-bats, leading to 122 runs scored. Judge reached a major career milestone on August 26 by recording his 1,000th hit. His season stats reflect his dominance at the plate, boasting a .325 batting average, a .461 on-base percentage, and a .708 slugging percentage. His plate discipline is evident with 133 walks, and he’s also contributed 10 stolen bases.
Judge’s overall career figures further highlight his impact on the game. In 992 regular-season appearances, he has belted 315 home runs, tallied 1,026 hits, and driven in 716 runs. He has also scored 736 runs and drawn 693 walks, maintaining a .288 batting average along with a .406 on-base percentage and .605 slugging percentage.
In postseason play, Judge has been a key contributor for the Yankees. Across 44 playoff games, he has hit 13 home runs and tallied 25 RBIs. Though his postseason batting average sits at .211, he continues to demonstrate his power with a .462 slugging percentage, scoring 29 runs on 36 hits.
Judge’s career is decorated with numerous honors. He’s been named an All-Star six times (2017, 2018, 2021-2024) and won the AL MVP award in 2022. His breakout rookie year in 2017 earned him AL Rookie of the Year honors. He has three Silver Slugger Awards and was recognized with the AL Hank Aaron Award in 2022. Leading the American League in home runs three times and RBIs twice, Judge has cemented his place as one of the game’s top power hitters.
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