"Even if Aaron Judge hit 63 HR, give me Shohei Ohtani's 50 HR & 50 SB" - Justin Verlander's analyst brother predicts unanimous NL MVP for Dodgers star

Justin Verlander's brother Ben Verlander gave his take on the hot NL MVP debate involving LA Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. With the Dodgers superstar nearing a 50-50 season, Verlander feels he is on track to win his third MVP title ahead of the Mets' Francisco Lindor. Moreover, he even compared Ohtani's season to be better than the Yankees' Aaron Judge.

Both Judge and Ohtani have lit up their respective leagues with their prowess at the plate. While the Yanks captain is still on pace to achieve 60 home runs for the second time in two years, Ohtani is six homers and four stolen bases away from becoming the first player in MLB history to register a 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases).

On the Flippin' Bats podcast, host Ben Verlander gave his two cents about why he feels the 30-year-old has had a better season than the Yankees slugger.

"I promise you as a hitter, it was harder to hit a homer right now than it was a decade ago, than it was two decades ago, than it was a century ago," Verlander said.

"If Shohei Ohtani goes 50-50 spare me the coversation that he's not the NL MVP and I will raise you the conversation that he has had the best offensive season of anyone in baseball right now and that includes Aaron Judge."

"50-50 give me that season over 63 home runs and Aaron Judge is no longer on pace to break his record from a couple of years ago," Verlander added.

"Over the last week or so he has hit under .200 with no homers and that pace has slowed, so I don't think Aaron Judge is going to 63+ but even if he hit 63 homers and hit .330 with a 1.200 OPS, give me Shohei Ohtani's season with 50 homer and 50 stolen bases with a 1.000 OPS and high batting average." [16:30 onwards]

Shohei Ohtani returns to Anahiem as a Dodger with RBI-triple

Shohei Ohtani returned to Angel Stadium for the first time since leaving the Halos last season. In the third inning, he hit his seventh triple (of the season) to right field that drove in Miguel Rojas.

The Dodgers won the game 6-2 in extra innings, thanks to a three-run home run blast by Mookie Betts in the 10th inning. They would hope to continue their winning ways as they square up in the second and final game of the series on Wednesday.

The Dodgers (84-55) are on a tear lately, winning seven of their last 10 games. They hold a 5.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West standings.