Aaron Judge’s American League record of 62 home runs in a season will likely stop there.
A day after surpassing Roger Maris’ mark with a first-inning blast in the second game of a doubleheader against the Rangers, Judge was not in the starting lineup for the Yankees in their regular-season finale against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas Wednesday. The 30-year-old slugger had played in 55 straight games.
The day off also likely brings to an end his chance to win the Triple Crown.
Presuming he doesn’t pinch hit, Judge, who leads the AL in homers and RBIs (131), will end the season with a .311 average. The Twins’ Luis Arraez currently leads the American League in hitting with a .315 average going into Minnesota’s finale against the White Sox.
Marwin Gonzalez will instead start in right field for the Yankees, with Jose Trevino at DH.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
The Yankees are looking for their 100th win of the season and enter the 2022 MLB playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the American League. Their first playoff game will be in the divisional round on Oct. 11 against the winner of the Guardians-Rays wild-card series.
