The hottest team in the American League right now clinched it's spot in the postseason, and now sets its sights on the division, and home field advantage.
Yes, it wasn't that long ago that the New York Yankees were left for dead in this 2025 season. Back in July and early August many were looking in at New York baseball, and the state of affairs at the time weren't good. It looked like both the Yankees and Mets would be lucky to make it to the postseason.
While the Mets are barely holding onto a 1-game lead over Cincinnati for the last wild card, the Yankees have been hot as a firecracker.
Since losing three-straight to Boston between August 21 and 23, the Yankees have posted a record of 20-8, and have cut what was once a seven game deficit in the AL East down to just one game.
Yes, the Yankees have taken advantage of a softer schedule with teams like the Orioles, Twins and White Sox on the docket. But they also took two of three from the fading Houston Astros; won two of three from Toronto in the Bronx, and took two of three from Boston.
Aaron Judge has been the highlight of course. In the month of September he is hitting .338 with six homers and eight RBI. He even passed Joe DiMaggio for fourth place among Yankees legends in home runs.
But he isn't doing it alone. Ben Rice has been great. Rice is hitting .338 with a pair of homers and 11 RBI; Cody Bellinger, despite hitting .205 this month, has 14 RBI; Jazz Chisholm is hitting .293 with 5 homers and 12 RBI this month. Austin Wells is hitting .277 this month with eight RBI. Even Anthony Volpe is starting to turn the corner.
And how about Jose Caballero. What an acquisition he has been. Caballero is white hot right now, hitting .316 with a homer and four RBI this month. He even had the game winning RBI single against the White Sox on Tuesday night to send the Bombers to the postseason.
Since joining the Yankees, Caballero has played solid defense at short stop, taking a load of pressure off the shoulders of Anthony Volpe; and is hitting .284 with three homers and nine RBI in 37 games with the Yankees. He has been a revelation.
Even the Yankees much maligned pitching staff has been better. They are getting quality starts from Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and a healthy Luis Gil now. Those three will be asked to lead the Yankees through a tricky American League in the postseason.
The bullpen, of course, is still the Yankees weakest point.
Still, here the Yankees sit with five games to go, just one back of Toronto. Toronto has to face the Red Sox and Rays. The Yankees get the beneift of facing the Orioles and White Sox. If there is one team that could benefit from winning its division and taking advantage of a bye in the wild card, it's the Yanks, who could then re-set for the division series.
But they have to win the division first to make that happen.
There is also the battle for the number 1 seed at stake too. The Mariners sit at 88 wins, two back of Toronto and one back of the Yankees. If the Yankees win the division, their head to head would tip home field to New York.
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