AL MVP race is heating up! Gabe Lacques from USA Today breaks down the epic showdown between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. With Judge chasing a Triple Crown and Raleigh's historic pace as a catcher, who will claim the crown?

Seattle Mariners' star catcher and 2025 Home Run Derby champion, Cal Raleigh, is now the AL betting favorite to win MVP above Aaron Judge.

The second half of the 2025 MLB season is in full swing. And while the fast-approaching trade deadline is the focal point across the baseball world right now, the AL and NL award races will also start to become more of a talking point.

Raleigh leads in home runs, 35 to 33. The pair are tied in RBI, 74-74. Judge is batting .360 to Raleigh's .268 and leads in OPS, 1.202 to 1.021. The catcher Raleigh leads in steals, 9 to 6.

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge ran away with the American League MVP award last year after a stellar regular season.

Aaron Judge may be in the middle of an American League MVP race with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, but the New York Yankees star is still enjoying watching his counterpart play this season.

The Yankees pivoted to Bellinger after missing out on Juan Soto in free agency, acquiring him from the Cubs in a low-risk, high-reward move. They sent right-hander Cody Poteet and cash considerations to Chicago and it’s already looking like one of Brian Cashman’s savviest trades in recent memory.

Cal Raleigh is having a generational season for a catcher, but Aaron Judge is still the best hitter in the AL. Can Raleigh win MVP?

Mariners Star Could ‘Overtake’ Aaron Judge In AL MVP Race, Insider Says. Unlock the latest Seattle Mariners news — direct to your inbox. Subscribe with Google Subscribe with Facebook