and have been at the top of the sport for several years now, and they're arguably better than ever at the plate in 2024. Both, in fact, are making serious runs at a triple crown (as is ). But how much longer will Ohtani and Judge, despite being on the wrong side of 30, remain this productive? The and are perhaps the two most surprising teams in MLB, and they will battle this weekend ( ). The and will also square off ( ) in what is a critical series for both teams. [Related: ] 4. Who between Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and do you think is most likely to win the triple crown this year? How would you rank them in regard to their chances? Thosar: Judge. Even if he won't publicly admit it, I think winning the triple crown means a lot to the Yankees slugger, so I'm expecting him to find yet another gear in the Yankees' stretch run. Similar to the sense of inevitability that surrounded his chase for 62 home runs a couple of years ago, Judge is inching closer and closer to Bobby Witt Jr. in batting average, and the more this topic is talked about, the cutthroat competitor in Judge might just make that category even more interesting. Plus, I think the tight AL East race will only further galvanize Judge to continue racking up hits and help the Yankees recapture the division crown. As far as rankings, after Judge, I think Ohtani Jimmy Schuldt Jersey has the best shot at the triple crown, followed by Ozuna. Kavner: Ohtani will make it tough on Ozuna and vice-versa, and Judge has built such a sizable advantage in homers and RBIs in his league that he's probably the answer here. However, there is one major factor to consider in his triple crown endeavor, and that is Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals sensation is hitting .349 entering Friday. If Witt went hitle s in his next 20 at-bats, he would still have a higher batting average than any qualified major-league hitter. (This is where it's worth mentioning that Witt hasn't gone more than three games without a hit this year, and has only gone more than two games without a hit one time). Still, I think Judge will probably end up the closest of the three to the triple crown. So, I'll rank them Judge, Ohtani, Ozuna, whose impre sive .298 batting average is a rather significant outlier compared to his past few seasons. 5. Who's the best team in the National League that isn't currently leading a division? Kavner: I'll say the Padres, although it's a to s-up for me between them and the D-backs, as they are the hottest teams in baseball since the All-Star break. I think either team would win the NL Central. I give San Diego the slight edge because of all the injuries Arizona is dealing with. It's incredible the D-backs are still rolling like this with and down (and now MVP contender banged up, too), and a testament to the depth they've built, but you have to wonder if they can keep it up with all those key players sidelined. In San Diego, the Padres' deadline adds have turned their bullpen into one of the best in baseball. Meanwhile, has been arguably the best pitcher in the sport since the break, while has been exceptional and vital for a shorthanded rotation. Offensively, and have started to get going, is a who seems to crave the big moment, is the bounce-back story of the year, and at some point Jr. will be added back to the mix. That's a scary group. Thosar: Hi s-hi s. The Snakes are alive and well, and not only do I think the surging are the best team in the NL that isn't currently leading a division, I think by the season's end they just might take the NL West crown from the Dodgers, too. Coming off a sweep of the and a series win against the Phillies, the D-backs are 11-2 in August, showing they can take care of busine s against inferior teams (which is not always as easy in practice as it is on paper), all while defeating a top World Series contender, too. The D-backs have a softer schedule the rest of this month, too, with matchups against the , , and on tap. As it is, Arizona is only two games behind the Dodgers for the division lead, so depending on how Los Angeles' key players returning from injury actually fare, the Snakes could overtake their division rival during their three-game battle against the Dodgers on home turf at the end of this month. Since there's ample time to prepare, I'd make sure your pantries are stocked with popcorn for that crucial Dodgers-Diamondbacks series. is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at . is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at . [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? .] FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Collin Graf Jersey