Aaron Judge home run chase: Yankees slugger stuck on No. 61 as Orioles avoid strikes

Judge misses a chance at home run No. 62 with two walks

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge remains on 61 home runs after going 0 for 2 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch Saturday afternoon against the Baltimore Orioles (NY 8, BAL 0). Judge tied Roger Maris' American League single-season record this past Wednesday. He is 1 for 4 with four walks (one intentional) and the hit-by-pitch since his 61st homer.

Including Saturday, Judge has walked 16 times in his last nine games, and there are times he is clearly being pitched around for an unintentional-intentional walk. Here is the AL's single-season home run leaderboard:

1. Aaron Judge, 2022 Yankees: 61 and counting
2. Roger Maris, 1961 Yankees: 61
3. Babe Ruth, 1927 Yankees: 60
   
4. Hank Greenberg, 1938 Tigers: 58
5. Jimmie Foxx, 1932 Athletics: 58 

Judge became the sixth player in history with a 60-homer season on Sept. 20 and he tied Maris with his 61st homer on Sept. 28. Only Barry Bonds (73 in 2001), Mark McGwire (70 in 1998 and 65 in 1999) and Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998, 64 in 2001 and 63 in 1999) have hit more home runs in a season than Judge, and they all played in the National League.

In addition to AL single-season home run record, Judge is also chasing a Triple Crown. He is now hitting .31295 on the season, second to Twins infielder Luis Arraez and his .31471 average. Not surprisingly, Judge has a massive lead in home runs and comfortable lead in RBI. Miguel Cabrera won baseball's last Triple Crown in 2012.

The Yankees will play their final home game Sunday afternoon, so that is Judge's last chance to break Maris' record at Yankee Stadium. The O's will start rookie righty Kyle Bradish in that game. Judge has never faced Bradish.

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:26 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Chi Chi Gonzalez will start tomorrow…Luis Severino Monday in Texas… Jamo/Cole in DH and German final game of regular season #yankees #rotation

— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:21 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Nestor Cortes describes reflecting on his MLB journey so far: "I think about it every day... Every time I go out there and pitch I always feel like it could be the last one." pic.twitter.com/JPdSreYdHt

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:14 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

The visual evidence is clear.

There's magic in the mustache.#YANKSonYES x #NastyNestor pic.twitter.com/2r129GSmLY

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:09 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Giancarlo Stanton on Aaron Judge's pursuit of history: "There's no bigger stage and there's no tougher place to do it. He's at the top of the top and he's made it look easy." pic.twitter.com/1fyHH8ZUwX

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:04 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

'Til Tomorrow. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/sTZGgvbiDA

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 5:00 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

🫡 @Cortes_1210 pic.twitter.com/cLGLCrK6Qg

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:57 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

"It's a tough situation to be in."

Aaron Boone shares his thoughts on how opponents approach pitching to Aaron Judge during his historic season. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/yrzv79jSoP

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:52 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Starting off October right ✅#RepBX pic.twitter.com/0esnUexGwQ

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:41 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Get your hits on route 66. @the_higster 💥 pic.twitter.com/ZaHWW9nyYm

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:40 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Should pitchers challenge Aaron Judge or continue to pitch around him?

"There is a much greater benefit in trying to challenge a hitter who is at the absolute top of his game than there is in trying to avoid him," argues @JackCurryYES. pic.twitter.com/D4jSMOJr2T

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:35 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Saturday morning, take the train for a ride
The sun is up, I got my homies by my side. pic.twitter.com/nBKebdRRAG

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:30 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Kyle Higashioka tells @M_Marakovits that Nestor Cortes "is just coming into his own... This is who we know he is." pic.twitter.com/AsjKCIMWtg

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:24 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

"Nestor Cortes dominating... that's a pretty big headline," says @JackCurryYES after today's masterclass from No. 65. pic.twitter.com/POqQkICDfw

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:21 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Numbers don't lie. Nestor Cortes has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since 2021. pic.twitter.com/akp6T3S10w

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:20 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Demolished. @Giancarlo818 💪 pic.twitter.com/HUtoWm32Bl

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:11 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Westor Wortes ✔️ pic.twitter.com/YZED4bCm2M

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 4:11 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Saturday Shutout. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/Liqt3PwWqT

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:57 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Nestor Cortes lowers his ERA to 2.44

The Yankees lowest in a season (min 140 IP) since Ron Guidry's 1.74 in 1978

— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:56 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Nestor Cortes has absolutely dominated the O's all year (3 GS):

18.1 IP | 10 H | 0 ER | 31 K | 3 BB#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/tVekBvZ4MH

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:55 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

12 K day for Nasty Nestor 🙌@Cortes_1210 👏 pic.twitter.com/Gve1Y52hue

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:51 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

The Bronx faithful show Nestor Cortes the love he deserves 👏

7.1 IP | H | 0 ER | 12 K | 2 BB pic.twitter.com/FvhlflpNCR

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:49 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

The apple of our eye. @Cortes_1210 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kGi0XOXxgT

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:44 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Four more hits, four more runs for the Bombers in the 7th!

It's an 8-0 game in the Bronx.

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/aRu5PEOHes pic.twitter.com/VSgQWRhJUp

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:44 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

4️⃣ in the 7th 👊 pic.twitter.com/WgV8HQw0fz

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:31 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

pic.twitter.com/n9Z4FVQbzB

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:25 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

A side-by-side look at the swings of Aaron Judge and Barry Bonds. pic.twitter.com/nTTY5GiJQH

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:13 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Rock 'em to sleep, Nasty Nestor!

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/aRu5PEOHes pic.twitter.com/iAdgS1syac

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 3:12 pm ET · @Yankees via Twitter]

Nimble Nestor 😂@Cortes_1210 👏 pic.twitter.com/0uTlSJHLXF

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 2:35 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Prayers up for @dcone36's cramping hamstring in the YES booth 🙏 pic.twitter.com/8UZI50HzKB

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022

[Oct 1, 2022 at 2:17 pm ET · @YESNetwork via Twitter]

Hmmmm..... pic.twitter.com/eidyr005ry

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 1, 2022