Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Aaron Judge puts the spotlight on the Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees ALDS Series

The MVP hunt we didn’t know we needed is now the playoff series we can’t wait for as a contrast in styles begins.

When Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals face Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, there’s so much to enjoy – at first glance and beneath the surface.

The Royals have regained prominence this season, clinching a wild-card spot with a plus-91 run differential, tied for second-best in the American League.

The Yankees have reclaimed their place at the top of the American League, regained their No. 1 seed, and returned to their Evil Empire identity, even if it never really went away.

If Witt was already on his way to superstar status when he signed an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February, he’s fully arrived now. If there was any belief that the Royals would excel after Witt had a strong rookie season and a high-level season last year, those concerns have long since faded.

Not only did Witt storm into the MVP discussion by hitting 32 home runs with 31 stolen bases and Gold Glove-worthy defense at shortstop; He was the main reason Kansas City was able to get back into the playoffs after losing 106 games last season. The Royals have not reached the postseason since winning the title in 2015.

The reality, however, is that Judge will be the American League MVP for the second time in three seasons, with a 58 homer, 144 RBI and 1.159 OPS season that was just as good as his 2022 season, minus the AL home run -Record.

The Yankees were among the best MLB teams all season, thanks to an offense that led baseball with 237 home runs and led the AL with 815 runs scored and a .762 OPS. And while they’re always considered a team to beat every year, New York will have something to prove after just three playoff wins in the last three seasons.

Earlier this season, the Yankees won five of the seven games between the teams, including a four-game series in Kansas City in June when New York won three times.

Witt didn’t hit a home run against the Yankees this season, but he batted .367 with an OPS of .887. Judge hit one home run in six games against the Royals with a .250 batting average and a .708 OPS.

As far as the playoffs go, Witt provided some momentum by helping the Royals to a 2-0 wild-card win over the Baltimore Orioles. Kansas City managed to get the two wins by just three total runs, and Witt drove in one in each game.

“It’s really special to see what this team has done this year compared to what happened last year, and now we just have to keep going,” Witt said after the Royals advanced.

Judge helped give the Yankees the title of favorite in the series, with the home-field advantage that comes with it. But in the new era of expanded playoffs and three wild-card teams, the division winners were at a bit of a disadvantage.

The Royals and Detroit Tigers have already advanced to the division series with wins in wild card series on the road. Last season, two wild card teams, the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, played in the World Series. And in 2022, the wild-card Philadelphia Phillies, the lowest seed in the National League, were participants in the World Series.

It presents a scenario where Judge gets his MVP at the end of the season, but Witt could end up getting what he would have preferred anyway if the Royals could advance past the Yankees and into the American League Champion Series.

“We just have to take things one day at a time, one step at a time, like we have been doing,” Witt said. “It’s incredible to do this for the (Royals) fans, so I can’t wait to play a game (at home), but first we’re going to New York.”