Mariners' Cal Raleigh keeps Aaron Judge at arm's length in HR race

For most of the Mariners' 11-2 romp over the Minnesota Twins, it appeared as though Judge would end the night having pulled within three of Raleigh's home run lead.

But in the top of the ninth, Raleigh blasted his 32nd home run, hitting Twins reliever Joey Wentz's 86 mph changeup 379 feet to left.

Over Raleigh's last six games dating back to June 17, the 2024 Gold Glove Award winner has a .480/.536/1.143 slash line with six home runs and 14 RBI.

In MLB.com's most recent All-Star voting update, Judge (2,699,483) and Raleigh (1,901,389) are the AL's leading vote-getters for the Midsummer Classic, set for July 15.

The home run race between the two likely 2025 All-Star starters has emerged as arguably the best subplot of the season. As temperatures rise and balls travel farther, the most memorable days of the competition could still be ahead of us while their totals grow.

The home run competition has also breathed life into the AL MVP race, which for the first two months of the season appeared like it would be a landslide Judge win.

The Yankees power hitter is still an overwhelming favorite, according to ESPN BET, at -2000, but Raleigh has emerged as a viable challenger. Considering how hot he is at the plate, Judge could be chasing him for the home run crown for most, if not all, of the season.