The MVP fever is heating up and two names are echoing loud and clear as favorites—Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. These two New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals icons are tearing up on the field and making it difficult for fans and even analysts to not pit them against each other. But unlike the classic rivalries, Judge and Witt Jr. have been more than cordial with each other. Witt even called Judge the ‘King of New York’ — a refreshing twist indeed. 

Monday night was an intense game for both players – their teams were facing each other head-on. It was the first of a three-game series between the season’s powerhouses. The entire ballpark was electric, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats and every pitch added to more suspense. Plus, what made the entire game so nail-biting was the fact that Aaron Judge had a lot of pressure going in, given that he was fighting off a 12-game slump. But boy, did he deliver!

Aaron Judge rises from slump to shine in showdown with Witt Jr.

Aaron Judge has set expectations so high that anything less is not ‘great’ coming from him. He has 51 homers this season till now, and while for some this might be a career-high in a season- more is expected from Judge. From theories of the MVP award getting to his head to a hex on him by a cartoon show- fans have had a lot to say about his slump. But Yankees manager Boone was cool as a cucumber the entire time, and now we know why. Aaron Judge delivered a performance when his team needed him the most; he went 2-for-4 with a walk and a very crucial RBI. And with that, the Yankees won 10-4 over the all-star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals.

Now, it seems like Aaron Judge is back in the picture for the run for his MVP award. While many fans were worried about this slump leaving an impact on his chances of winning the award, he didn’t. Judge took the advice of not worrying about things that are not in your hands seriously. “It’s out of my hands, it’s always been out of my hands. It’s not my job to worry about it. My job is to put my team in the best position to win, whatever that is,” Aaron told The Post after the game.

So, Aaron Judge isn’t losing sleep over MVP talk, as he further noted, “Worrying about the voting or this and that, you can’t ever get caught up in that.” Well, guess that’s what makes champions different from the rest- they aren’t cut from the same cloth. However, there is no denying the thick air of intensity about the MVP showdown; given both Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. have identical WARs of 9.6 this season, according to FanGraphs.

Ken Rosenthal rallies up for Bobby Witt Jr. 

Bobby Witt Jr. is leading the majors with a .335 average, even after a night with 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. He has 30 home runs, has 98 RBIs, and hence, he is undoubtedly a serious contender for the MVP award. Had Judge not been in the picture with 51 home runs 125 RBIs and a .321 batting average, Witt might have even been a frontrunner. However, while stats may say something else, for some, Witt Jr. is the one leading this race. 

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal recently came out to appreciate Bobby Witt Jr. He commended the 24-year-old for boosting the team’s playoff hopes. Well, the Royals were strategically smart and made some stellar moves before the trade deadline and in the off-season—which led to them picking up steam when they needed it the most. Speaking to the Fair Territory recently, Rosenthal highlighted how the Royals have proven their critics wrong.

“Here was a team, that even after their offseason moves, FanGraphs laughed at, and yet, they’ve had a pretty good vibe about them all year. They’ve also got the best player (Bobby Witt Jr.), arguably, in the sport, the best young player.,” Rosenthal explained, adding that he isn’t insulting a player whom others consider as best, like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. Instead, he simply thinks Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the top five players today. 

As the season is reaching its playoffs, the MVP race between the two best players of the season is turning out to be a complete showdown. Both players are doing their best to ensure every game is worth a watch, but in the end, who comes out on top is something only time will tell. For now, one thing is certain: It’s going to be a nail-biting finish. 

Who are you rooting for in the MVP race? Saher in the comments below.