Paul Skenes Dominates Once Again
On Thursday, September 5, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was absolutely electric in a start against the Dodgers at PNC Park. He struck out eight batters over 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits, one walk, and no earned runs. That outing dropped his ERA (earned run average) to a staggering 1.98. Among those he faced was 3x MVP Shohei Ohtani, who went 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout.
Cal Raleigh Smashes the Catcher HR Record
This past month, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh set a new single-season primary catcher home run record. The previous record stood at 48 home runs, set by Salvador Perez in 2021. Raleigh has already exceeded that, with 50+ home runs and still several weeks left in the season. Earlier in the year, Raleigh also made history as the first catcher ever to win the Home Run Derby.
Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Comeback
Shohei Ohtani has made his long-anticipated return to the mound after undergoing his second Tommy John (elbow) surgery in 2023. He pitched his first major-league innings since the surgery on June 16, 2025, debuting for the Dodgers vs. the Padres. The Dodgers are being very cautious, gradually building up his workload (innings, pitch counts). In a more recent outing against the Reds, Ohtani threw 3+ innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out four, and walking two. Despite some cramping issues in his right hip, the outing was viewed as a positive step – especially since his ERA over his returns is strong.
Aaron Judge Passes Joe DiMaggio on Yankee HR List
Aaron Judge has enjoyed another milestone-filled stretch to close out the 2025 season: On September 9, Judge hit his 359th career home run with the Yankees, moving him past Yogi Berra for 5th place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list. Then, on September 11, he hit two more home runs in a win over the Tigers (his 360th & 361st), tying Joe DiMaggio for 4th place in Yankee history. This season, he has hit 46 home runs as of September 11, second in the AL behind Cal Raleigh. He is also chasing another milestone: a fourth 50-home-run season, which would place him in rarefied company.
