Since August 6, the New York Yankees have been the team with the best win-loss record in MLB. Despite a three-game losing streak against Boston, their eternal rivals, the Bombers have recorded 16 wins and only six losses in their last 22 games, a record that has allowed them to stay in the battle for a postseason berth.
However, doubts about the ninth have not been dispelled, because 13 of those victories have come against rivals who have a negative balance in the campaign. In other words, in recent weeks they have not been so demanding and have had little contact with potential playoff rivals.
The dynamics will change completely starting on Tuesday, when they begin a three-game series in Houston. They will then host the Blue Jays and Tigers, the two best teams in the American League, at Yankee Stadium, and finish their litmus test with a visit to Fenway Park to face the Red Sox.
This death route will largely define the Bombers’ fortunes in 2025, although they will then have a much easier run-in with three games at Minnesota, three more against the White Sox and seven against the Orioles, all with losing records.
First round against the Astros
The Yankees will fight in Houston with Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, the two horses of their rotation. The left-handers are in a positive dynamic and will look for victories that guarantee to leave with a positive balance from Daikin Park
Fried will face Framber Valdez in a duel of aces, while Rodon is projected to face Dominican Cristian Javier. The other duel of the series will be between Will Warren and Jason Alexander, two right-handers who have had their ups and downs in the campaign.
The Astros have gone 12-12 over the past few weeks, but it feels like they are now a deeper team with the return of Carlos Correa via trade and the return of Yordan Alvarez after several months out injured.
To get even with Toronto
In ten games this season against the Blue Jays, the Yankees have only won once. Largely because of these results, the Canadian franchise is in first place in the American League East, 2.5 games ahead of the New Yorkers.
With the urgent need to change this dynamic, Aaron Boone’s boys will face Toronto in the Bronx, where they will have to face three powerful and experienced pitchers: Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt.
On the other hand, the Yankees will rely on the young arms of Cam Schlitter and Luis Gil in two of those games. The fast right-handers, who have been on the rise in their most recent outings, will have to go the extra mile to beat the compact Canadian offense. Max Fried will return for the third game of the series.
The challenge against the American League leaders
The Yankees’ third opponent in this dangerous journey will be the Detroit Tigers, the only American League team that has already reached 80 wins. In their previous meeting, the New Yorkers lost two of the three games against AJ Hinch’s charges, who are looking to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Charlie Morton, Casey Mize and Chris Paddack will be the three potential opponents on the mound. Of the three, Mize has been the most consistent, with a 3.95 ERA and 12 wins in 23 starts.
Morton and Paddack, on the other hand, have been very enigmatic, with averages well above their respective career averages. Both arrived in Detroit via trade last July and want to contribute to the team after the effort they made to bring them in for the decisive stretch of the contest.
Again Warren, Rodon and Schlitter will take the stage for the Yankees with the advantage of pitching at home.
One last test against the Green Monster
The Yankees’ season against the Red Sox has been a nightmare. They have lost eight of the 10 meetings they have played, suffering from the dynamism of Boston’s offense and pitching that has been able to step up in moments of greatest tension.
Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Hunter Dobbins and Aroldis Chapman have done their job to perfection and are hungry for more. Playing in front of their home crowd at Fenway Park will be an added motivation for the Red Sox, who are also fighting for a postseason berth.
Without a doubt, it will be an all-or-nothing series, probably a rehearsal for what will be seen in the playoffs.
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