Yordan Alvarez, Matt Olson, Junior Caminero and Kyle Schwarber are all tied with 35 home runs as the regular season winds down.
Of the four of them, only one has led the league in home runs over the course of a season before: Olson in 2023. Schwarber has led the National League in home runs twice in his career, but never all of baseball. All four are looking like their seasons will continue into October, and the home run race is likely not on their minds. However, it is something that one of them seems poised to win.
Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies is at 34 home runs, but he missed a chunk of time with an injury. Had he not missed that time, he may have been leading the race. However, he still has a chance to ctach up and pass the other four sluggers.
Alvarez, who is the favorite to win American League MVP and is on Triple Crown watch, has actually not homered since July 28. He is still looking for his first long ball of the month. Meanwhile, Olson has six home runs this month. Schwarber has just two, both coming in the same game. Caminero has five in August.
Caminero and Olson are red hot at the plate, and Alvarez's slowing down has given both the opportunity to pass him.
Regardless of who wins the home run race, it is already a historic one. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time since 1982 that four or more players were tied for first place on Aug. 11 or later in a season. That season, on Sept. 8 and 9, Gorman Thomas, Dale Murphy, Reggie Jackson and Dave Kingman all had 34 home runs, per MLB.com's Sarah Langs.