The weekend was a bitter one for the New York Yankees, who lost three of four games to their eternal rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The stumble left them reeling in the American League wild-card race and sparked fresh criticism of the team’s performance in important series.
However, that loss did not completely nullify what they had been building, as before facing Boston, the Yankees had five consecutive victories, including sweeps of the Cardinals and Rays on the road. That streak was enough to propel them from 11th to 10th in MLB’s most recent power rankings.
Yankees rise in MLB power rankings despite recent results
Despite a season of inconsistencies, the Yankees managed to remain among the top 10 teams in the rankings, even ahead of teams such as the Blue Jays, who dropped from third to fourth place. According to MLB analysis, their immediate schedule has favored them with three games against the Nationals and three more against the White Sox, teams at the bottom of the table.
That scheduled relief could be key to stabilizing the team, especially considering that their record against teams with numbers in the American League is 7-19. Even so, their performance against struggling franchises has allowed them to continue to add vital wins in the final stretch.
What’s next for the Yankees: Decisive weeks and key duels
Monday’s 10-5 victory over the Nationals got the last week of August off to a good start. If they can complete the sweep on Wednesday and take advantage of the White Sox, they could consolidate their position heading into October. FanGraphs gives them a 97.5% chance of reaching the postseason and a 9.6% chance of winning the World Series, the highest in the American League.
However, the schedule soon turns uphill with matchups against the Astros, Blue Jays, Tigers and another series against the Red Sox that will test the team’s true ability. The final series at Fenway Park could define whether the Yankees are ready to compete or say goodbye early.
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