Yankees' Aaron Judge, Juan Soto make MLB history with impressive offensive numbers

Despite being without ace and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole all season thus far, the Yankees' pitching staff has more than held their own.

The team entered Friday ranking first in MLB in ERA (2.77) and opponent's batting average (.209) among other categories.

On offense, Judge had a slow start in April but turned it up with a historically good May. The AL's all-time single-season home run champion has combined with Soto and red-hot second-year shortstop Anthony Volpe to power a potent New York lineup.

The Yankees not only lead the AL East at 39-19, but they have the best record in the junior circuit, have the best run differential in MLB (+97) and are only 1/2 game behind the Philadelphia Phillies (39-18) for the best mark in the league. Only the Baltimore Orioles (35-19) have looked like a threat within the division, as the Boston Red Sox (28-29), Tampa Bay Rays (28-29) and Toronto Blue Jays (26-29) are all battling to avoid the group's cellar.

Unlike Judge, who is still seeking his first World Series appearance, Soto has been to the Fall Classic. The 25-year-old Dominican won the crown in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, just his second season in the bigs.

Despite racking up five All-Star recognitions, three Silver Slugger honors, an MVP and AL Rookie of the Year Award, Judge has been unable to get the Yankees past the ALCS. Since Judge debuted in 2016, New York lost to the Houston Astros in that round in 2017, 2019 and 2022.