Anticipation has been simmering for weeks, jam-packed to see the home run record of Aaron Judge’s bat. The euphoric release of Yankees fans will be palpable if number 62 occurs within the next 36 hours, cementing the judge’s place in baseball history with a hit in the batter’s box. Tuesday afternoon’s doubleheader against the Texas Rangers represents Game 160 and 161 for New York this season, with tomorrow afternoon’s game being the regular season finale. Over that trio of games, Judge is expected to make about 10 more plate appearances against the Texas Rangers. It would be one of the biggest blue ball cases in the sport if Judge finished the season tied with Roger Maris.
We were all waiting for the greatest single achievement of baseball in two decades. It would suck if Judge didn’t finish the job. Today has to be the day Judge becomes the American League home run king and hits No. 62 out of Globe Life Field. A doubleheader against the golf course-bound Rangers, who haven’t had a solid rotation in the 21st century despite names like Cliff Lee, Yu Darvish, Lance Lynn and Cole Hamels, should be a catalyst. Yes, the Yankees have had a chance against Texas before, a 3-1 victory on Monday with Judge going 1 for 4 at the plate, the outfielder’s only hit being a single into the field.
Playing in a ballpark that’s gaining a reputation for being batter-friendly in Arlington, much like its predecessor in town, which is the new home of the area’s XFL franchise, helps. By Judge’s standards, he’s in a longball slump. He reached No. 60 on Sept. 20, two weeks ago, against Pittsburgh. Its last home run was just six days away, but with the walls closing in on the remaining chances of doing so, the more desperate each hack becomes to make history. Jon Gray is Texas’ starter going into Tuesday’s game and Judge is 0-1 against him. Gray is 7-7 with a 3.93 ERA on the season and has looked average as expected this season. Rangers are yet to list a starter for tonight’s game, but it’s likely to be Kolby Allard, who has been added to the squad’s roster for the doubleheader. Tomorrow’s starter against Judge is expected to be Glenn Otto, who is 6-10 with a 4.72 ERA this season.
It’s a strange thought to know that come dinnertime tomorrow we’ll know where Judge will land in the story, with no guarantee that he’ll release those single-season stats again. So does Barry Bonds, whose second-highest single-season home run total was 49 the year before his 73 long-ball effort in 2001. The go-to television to watch Judge only is college football interrupted over the past two weeks will end as the focus shifts to the teams competing in the playoffs. And if Judge doesn’t hit at least one more home run, what a disappointment it will be. I bet we’ll all sleep tonight not wondering if Game 162 will be where he hits his 62nd homer of the year. The judge sets the record against Texas today. Count on it.