The New York Yankees are playoff-bound, officially locking up a spot in the MLB postseason for the third straight season and their ninth in the last decade. But don’t let that smooth talk fool you, they’re still staring down a World Series drought that’s been dragging on since 2009, with only one AL pennant to show for it. They’ve clinched, yeah, but their sights are firmly set on the AL East title, too. Remember, this is a franchise that’s had a winning record for an insane 34 straight seasons, going back to 1992. Even their “worst” year since then, 2014, was 84-78. Regular season success is practically automatic for them. Now the real work begins.
Judge Is Back, And He Changes Everything
Here’s the stat that should make every other team in MLB sweat: The Yankees are 41-24 when Aaron Judge starts, compared to 46-39 when he doesn’t. You read that right. The guy is a game-changer like no one else, maybe besides Ohtani. Judge, who snagged three of the last four AL MVP awards before injuries held him to just 106 games in 2023, is officially back. He missed from May 31 all the way until September 8 this season, but he’s getting eased into the lineup. The best part? He just mashed a homer Monday night, his first since coming back, and he’s got over two weeks to get completely up to speed before the playoffs kick off. Imagine a fully healthy Judge in October with guys like Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice, and Luis García Jr. batting around him. That’s a lineup that can do serious damage.
Chasing the East and Shutting Down Opponents
Even with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton missing serious time, the Yankees are still one of baseball’s most prolific home run teams. They live and die by the long ball, sitting in the middle of the pack for overall runs and OPS but way up top in dingers. But it’s not just the offense making noise. These guys lead the entire league in team ERA, which is insane considering how many of their starting pitchers have been out for lengthy periods. That kind of run prevention is a serious weapon. They’re also still in the hunt for the AL East title, trailing the Rays by four games heading into Monday. The biggest showdown is still ahead: a four-game head-to-head series at Yankee Stadium from September 22-24, including a doubleheader. That’s where the AL East could really get shaken up. The source also mentioned a “trio of aces” as another reason New York is a threat to win it all, though it didn’t dive into the details. If that’s for real, watch out.
So, the postseason ticket is punched, but the real prize is the AL East crown, and then, finally, ending that World Series drought that’s been going on too long. All eyes are on that Rays series next week. Time to see what they’re truly made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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