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In a battle of reigning MVP winners, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees both made some special history.
Ohtani homered twice, giving him 22 for the year, and you can read about his accomplishments here. Judge went 2-for-5, also homering, which gives him 19 for the season.
Per @Nyyankeesstats:
After his first inning home run, Aaron Judge now has 157 total bases this season.
That’s the most in MLB history before June.
After his first inning home run, Aaron Judge now has 157 total bases this season.
— New York Yankees Stats (@nyyankeesstats) May 31, 2025
That’s the most in MLB history before June.
With his double later in the game, Judge now has 159 total bases, extending his lead even further. Out to an incredible start this season, the 33-year-old is hitting .392 with a .486 on-base percentage. He's also got a 1.236 OPS and is the front runner for MVP again, which would be his third version of the award.
The most feared right-handed hitter in the sport, Judge is a four-time Silver Slugger and a six-time All-Star. He helped the Yankees get to the World Series last season and is a driving force behind their 35-21 record this season. They are in first place in the American League East. However, they lost on Friday 8-5 as the Dodgers scored six times in the sixth and seventh innings.
The two teams will play again on Saturday night with first pitch coming at 7:15 p.m. ET. Right-hander Will Warren will pitch for New York while Landon Knack goes for the Dodgers.
Warren is 3-2 with a 4.09 ERA and Knack is 2-2 with a 5.22.
More must-reads:
- Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
- Phillies' Kyle Schwarber inches closer to franchise history vs. Yankees
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Had 7 Words After Blue Jays' Historic Win Over Tigers
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in his seventh season with the Toronto Blue Jays, having made his MLB debut in 2019. From the moment he stepped onto a big-league field, Guerrero Jr. showcased formidable offensive talent. However, it was in the 2021 season that he fully broke out as a superstar. That season, the 26-year-old slugger finished second in American League MVP voting while leading all of baseball with 48 home runs and 123 runs scored. In April 2025, Guerrero Jr. secured his long-term future in Toronto by signing a 14-year, $500 million contract extension—the richest deal in Blue Jays history and the second-largest in MLB history. He has justified that massive investment with sustained dominance, earning his fifth consecutive All-Star selection this year. On Friday, the Blue Jays defeated the Detroit Tigers 6–2, thanks in large part to Guerrero Jr.’s contributions. He went 2-for-5, recording a pair of doubles, scoring twice, and driving in one run. Asked afterward how it felt to be on a personal hot streak amid Toronto’s post–All-Star-break surge, Guerrero Jr. replied, “If the team is winning, I’m hot.” Friday’s victory marked Toronto’s third straight win and improved their record to 62–42, the best mark in the league. It is the first time the franchise has held the top overall record this late in the season since 1992. The win also stretched the Blue Jays’ lead in the tightly contested AL East to 5.5 games after the New York Yankees fell to the Philadelphia Phillies. Over his last seven games, Guerrero Jr. has been scorching hot, batting .483 (14-for-29) with a 1.255 OPS, including one home run and seven RBIs.
Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.
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