Cal Raleigh hits 60th, Mariners clinch AL West as Judge chase intensifies

Cal Raleigh connected on back-to-back home runs, his 59th and 60th of the season, as the Seattle Mariners clinched the American League West with a 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The two-homer night leaves Raleigh two homers shy of tying Aaron Judge's AL single-season record of 62, set in 2022. "It's crazy. 60 is — I don't know what to say," Raleigh said after the game.

Seattle also tightened its path toward the top of the postseason standings. The Mariners still can chase the Yankees or Blue Jays for the AL's No. 1 seed and, with the win, pulled three games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the No. 2 seed. The organization has not yet decided how to balance rest and lineup protection in the final four games, but the focus remains on preserving Raleigh’s production as the chase for the history books continues.

Raleigh has appeared in 155 games this season, including 120 as catcher and 35 as designated hitter, according to team stats. Seattle, which has never advanced to a World Series, remains one of baseball’s enduring franchises with postseason expectations rising as the calendar turns toward autumn.

The pursuit of the AL home run record exists alongside Seattle's broader playoff ambitions. Some observers have suggested the team could opt to rest Raleigh in the final four games to protect him for the playoffs, though manager decisions will depend on the health and the pace of the chase. Whatever the approach, Raleigh’s milestone moment will be part of Seattle’s season-long storyline as the Mariners push toward a deep run.