NEW YORK -- Two of the greatest numbers in Yankees history are 60 and 61, the storied home run totals attached to Babe Ruth and Roger Maris, respectively. The franchise has never had a player hit 60 or more home runs in multiple seasons, a pace that Aaron Judge now finds himself on.

Judge continues to slug at an otherworldly pace, belting his Major League-leading 48th home run in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Guardians, an opposite-field blast off Gavin Williams in the fourth inning.

The Yankees¡¯ captain is nearly on pace to hit 61 home runs this season, which would represent his second time topping 60 after he eclipsed Maris¡¯ single-season American League record with 62 blasts in 2022.

¡°If it comes with a ring and a lot of fun in the playoffs, then definitely that¡¯d be cool,¡± Judge said. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to do whatever I can each day to put ourselves in good position to win a ballgame, especially these games against Cleveland, who we¡¯ll definitely see down the road.¡±

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that ¡°we¡¯re in the on-pace portion of the season,¡± and justifiably so. Judge is one of just three Yankees to hit at least 48 homers through the club¡¯s first 128 games of the season -- Judge did it in 2022 (49), as did Ruth (51 homers in 1921) and Maris (50 homers in 1961).

¡°It seems like another level,¡± said Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. ¡°This last bit here has been unreal, and so will these next five weeks.¡±

Added Boone: ¡°I think he just wants to be great every day and help us win, so nothing would surprise me.¡±

Judge is the Major League leader in homers, RBIs (118), on-base percentage (.465), slugging percentage (.726), extra-base hits (79) and total bases (326). That bold-faced statistical line is even more remarkable considering that Judge had to shrug off a slow first month.

¡°It¡¯s so impressive, because when you look around the league and you see guys with high batting averages, there¡¯s a fair amount of bunt hits and infield hits,¡± said right-hander Gerrit Cole. ¡°This guy¡¯s sitting at [.334], and I¡¯m not quite sure he has an infield hit all year; they¡¯re all doubles and homers.

¡°There¡¯s no one that can compare to him, certainly not walking around right now, outside of [Barry] Bonds. What a wonderful experience to have him on my team, and to be around him.¡±

In Judge¡¯s past 99 games dating to April 27, the captain has batted .379/.507/.833 (132-for-348) with 132 runs scored, 24 doubles, 44 homers and 105 RBIs. Judge is the first player in Major League history to bat at least .375 with at least 44 homers over a 99-game span in a single season.

¡°It¡¯s felt like this all year, even in April,¡± Judge said. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to do the same things, be consistent, repeat my swing. I try not to think too much of it. If I don¡¯t get any pitches, I have to pass the baton. I think with the team we have, [Juan] Soto hitting in front of me, [Austin] Wells swinging the bat well in the cleanup hole, it makes my job simple.

¡°I try to do my job, get on base, and if there¡¯s guys out there, drive them in. Having those guys around me helps lock me in.¡±

In addition to homering in all three games of the Bombers¡¯ series victory over the Guardians, Judge has hit six homers in his past seven games since Aug. 14, 13 in 24 games since July 26 and 16 in 33 games since July 12.

¡°That¡¯s what the best in the world does, make it look easy,¡± Stanton said. ¡°We¡¯re all feeding off that and he amazes us every night. I¡¯m glad he¡¯s on our side.¡±