Although it is not a season to boast about, New York Yankees fans have finally regained ground to aspire to a more comfortable playoff run. It will not be as division leaders, but at least they hold the third American League wild card spot and with a comfortable lead over the Cleveland Guardians. It is worth mentioning that the Toronto Blue Jays remain solid in the East zone, while the Boston Red Sox are not letting up with runners-up.
Meanwhile, the Guardians were the last threat for the Yankees, but they have not improved their situation by losing three of their last six games. This streak was taken advantage of by the Bronx team to have regained its composure by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. Even their power players such as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, have overcome the complications of their respective injuries.
How did the New York Yankees get back on track for the playoffs?
The Yankees’ recovery has not been spectacular, but it has been efficient. Starting pitcher Luis Gil pitched flawlessly, limiting the Cardinals to just four hits and one run in the first of three meetings between the two teams. The Yankees’ bullpen, which has been one of the main causes of the team’s problems this season, should soon recover Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough.
This will allow Aaron Boone’s team to take the pressure off struggling relievers such as Yerry De los Santos and Devin Williams. With these pieces in place, the Yankees could regain some of the power they had earlier in the season. If the playoffs were to start right now, the Yankees would play their first postseason series against the third-place team in the American League, the Houston Astros. This is nothing new, but the American League race is incredibly tight.
Yankees’ postseason odds
The Yankees’ performance is not the best, so the Astros’ winning percentage is only 0.016% better than that of the Yankees. The Houston team has proven to be solid at home, while the Yankees have struggled to get wins on the road. That is why they have placed the Texas team as favorites if this game takes place.
The wild card standings are very close, with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners tied with the same record (68-57), and the Yankees closing in. If New York manages a better spot in the wild card standings, it would play against the Toronto Blue Jays or Detroit Tigers, both extremely tough games. Both teams could be more troublesome for the Yankees. They are 3-7 against Toronto this season and 1-2 against Detroit (although it is worth noting that they have the same record against the Houston Texans).
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