Overview

• Cal Raleigh tops the majors with 32 home runs and 69 RBIs, positioning him to surpass Salvador Perez’s single-season catcher record of 48 homers.
• Aaron Judge remains the clear favorite for AL MVP at –2000 odds despite a July-to-date slump that saw his average dip during a seven-game, 3-for-27 stretch.
• Advanced metrics credit Raleigh’s defensive excellence behind the plate for boosting his overall value to the division-leading Mariners.
• Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Cleveland’s José Ramírez continue to post MVP-caliber seasons, keeping the race highly competitive.
• Only three American League catchers have ever won MVP, most recently Joe Mauer in 2009, underscoring the rarity of Raleigh’s potential achievement.