The New York Yankees didn’t get their best lead to a doubleheader towards the Tampa Bay Rays to start the ultimate week of the 2026 MLB common season.
The Yanks did win the opening sport, however the Rays bounced again to win the nightcap and with it, they clinched the AL East Division title.
The Yankees are 6.0-games again with 5 video games to play, that means after a September spent attempting to make some form of inroad towards Tampa Bay, the Yanks can not catch the Rays.
There are nonetheless 5 extra video games for the Yankees to play within the common season. They’ll tackle the Rays twice extra, after which they’ll play three towards the Baltimore Orioles.
The Wild Card Spherical, which the Yankees are slated to play in now that they didn’t win the division, begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
With all that mentioned, it’s going to be an odd final handful of video games for New York for one cause particularly.
Do Yankees Video games Nonetheless Matter?
The Yankees’ 5 remaining video games, strictly from a standings standpoint, do irrespective of.
The Rays have gained the division, so the very best the Yankees can do is end second within the AL East and first among the many three Wild Card groups.
And the Yanks are additionally now 6.0-games higher than the Boston Pink Sox with 5 video games for every to play, in order that’s a niche that can also’t be bridged.
On condition that Boston is each third place within the division and holding the second Wild Card spot, it really implies that the Yankees have clinched each the very best spots they’ll get apart from the division.
The Yankees are locked into the highest spot within the Wild Card standings. That comes with the No. 4 seed within the American League, and your entire Wild Card Collection at dwelling in Yankee Stadium.
They’ll seemingly host the Pink Sox, though that’s not fully locked in but.
However to the unique level, the Yankees merely can not transfer within the standings positionally in any respect within the final 5 video games of the season.
What Nonetheless Issues
The most important factor to observe because the Yankees wrap up this week is their pitching. They’ll need to get it lined up for the Wild Card Collection.
Carlos Rodon and Max Fried each pitched on Tuesday. Do they go once more over the weekend, or do the Yanks protect them?
Gerrit Cole pitches Wednesday, which might line him up virtually on common, full relaxation to pitch in the beginning of the Wild Card Collection.
Do they alter plans with Cam Schlittler to verify he’s prepared for Recreation 1?
Pitching is the factor that wants probably the most intentional motion like this to get it proper.
In any other case, all eyes might be on Aaron Decide’s harm, nevertheless it already appears like he gained’t be prepared for the Wild Card Spherical, in order that’s not best.
The Yankees have a handful of video games to take a deep breath earlier than they try to make an October run.
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