Tracking 8 notable late-season stat chases
As the regular season winds down, two major statistical accomplishments have captured the attention of the baseball world:
- Shohei Ohtani, already the first player with at least 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in the same season, is pushing to reach the unprecedented 50-50 mark.
- Aaron Judge is slugging his way toward his second 60-homer season, with a shot to equal or top his own AL record of 62 set in 2022.
But those are not the only notable statistical milestones up for grabs this September. Below, MLB.com is providing daily updates on some other chases.
A PITCHING TRIPLE CROWN ... OR TWO
The players: Tarik Skubal (Tigers) and Chris Sale (Braves)
The feat: AL and NL pitching Triple Crowns
Their chances: Skubal leads the AL in wins (16), ERA (2.53) and strikeouts (208). Sale leads the NL in wins (16), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (213).
Why it's significant: No pitcher has won a Triple Crown in a full season since Justin Verlander (AL) and Clayton Kershaw (NL) both did so in 2011. The last pitcher to lead all of MLB in all three categories was Johan Santana in 2006. (Shane Bieber also accomplished both feats in 2020, but that was during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.)
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A FRANCHISE HR RECORD
The player: Manny Machado (Padres)
The feat: Most career home runs in Padres history
His chances: Machado blasted a pair of home runs on Friday night at Petco Park to tie Nate Colbert's franchise-best 163 homers from 1969-74, and he needs just one more to take the franchise lead outright. Machado entered the game in a tie for second place with Adrián González (161 homers).
Why it's significant: Machado would join Mike Trout (Angels) and Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) as the only active players with a franchise home run lead.
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LEADOFF LONG BALLS
The player: Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
The feat: Most leadoff home runs in a season
His chances: Schwarber already has pulled into a tie with Alfonso Soriano (2003) for the record of 13 leadoff home runs.
Why it's significant: Schwarber's big season is also pushing him up the career list, where he is now tied for ninth (44).
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A DOUBLE-TRIPLE
The player: Jarren Duran (Red Sox)
The feat: Leading the Majors in both doubles and triples
His chances: Duran (44 doubles) is tied for the MLB lead with the Phillies' Alec Bohm, who was placed on the injured list on Friday. Duran also leads in triples (13), although the D-backs' Corbin Carroll (12) and the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (11) are on his tail.
Why it's significant: The last player to lead MLB in both categories was the Cardinals' Lou Brock in 1968. Meanwhile, if Duran can reach 50 doubles and 15 triples, he'd be the first to pull off that combo since the Cardinals' Stan Musial in 1946.
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MORE BIG NUMBERS FOR JUDGE
The player: Aaron Judge (Yankees)
The feats: 400 total bases and/or a .700 SLG
His chances: Judge currently has 351 total bases and a .694 SLG. He's on pace for 395 total bases if he plays in the rest of the Yankees' games.
Why it's significant: No hitter has collected 400 total bases in a season since four players (Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez, Todd Helton and Sammy Sosa) all did so in 2001. Outside of the 1997-2001 window, it hasn't happened since 1978 (Jim Rice). Meanwhile, only 17 hitters in AL/NL history have managed a .700 SLG, none since Bonds did it four years in a row from 2001-04.
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A MICROSCOPIC ERA
The player: Emmanuel Clase (Guardians)
The feat: An ERA of 0.75 or lower
His chances: The Cleveland closer owns a 0.68 ERA through his first 66 appearances and 66 1/3 innings.
Why it's significant: Only five pitchers have ever posted an ERA that low in a season of at least 50 innings. While Zack Britton's 2016 record of 0.54 is out of reach, Clase would pass Dennis Eckersley (0.61 in 1990) and Fernando Rodney (0.60 in 2012) for second if he pitches at least 9 2/3 innings and doesn't allow another earned run this season.
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RUNNING WILD
The player: Elly De La Cruz (Reds)
The feat: 75 stolen bases in a season
His chances: De La Cruz's 62 steals lead MLB by a wide margin. He has slowed down a bit of late, however, and is now on pace for 69.
Why it's significant: The last players with at least 75 steals were José Reyes in 2007 (78) and Kenny Lofton in 1996 (75). De La Cruz (23 home runs) also could notch just the third 25-75 season after Rickey Henderson and Eric Davis both did it in 1986.
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LOSS LEADERS
The team: Chicago White Sox
The feat: 121 losses in a season
Their chances: At 33-112, Chicago would have to go 9-8 or better the rest of the way to avoid this fate.
Why it's significant: The 1962 Mets, an expansion team, hold the record for single-season losses in the Modern Era (since 1900), with 120.