After Yankees Clinch AL Wild Card Spot, Rays Battle Looms

For the third straight season and the eighth time in Aaron Boone’s nine years as a manager, the New York Yankees have clinched an AL playoff spot.

The Yankees fought for a playoff spot after recovering from injuries to star players. Fighting through injuries, the team found itself within range not only of a Wild Card spot but of the AL East title.

Last week, the Yankees overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Minnesota Twins, exploding in the eighth inning and scoring six runs. Aaron Judge crushed a pitch deep into the second deck in left field for a three-run homer that put the Yankees on top, 7-2.

Judge’s home run reminded everyone what the Yankees have been missing, as he was sidelined for three months with a right rib fracture.

“Every year you go through a lot, it seems like, but we’ve been through a lot this year with injuries, with adversity,” Boone said. “But credit to them for coming together. Through all the ups and downs, they’ve been a together group. I feel like they’ve developed a lot of grit over the season.”  

“I like to describe him as a force of nature,” rookie center fielder Spencer Jones said. “I mean, he’s inevitable in a lot of cases, so it’s going to be fun down the stretch.” 

“I’m proud of the guys,” Judge said. “I’ve been proud of what they’ve done, proud of the young guys coming up and filling some holes for us.  

“You know, seeing Spencer, how he’s really evolved every single time he got called up, gotten a little bit better, a little bit better. Our starting pitching is doing what it’s done. You call up a guy like George Lombard Jr., 21 years old, to be the shortstop for the Yankees, and he’s just fit right in with this group. I’m just proud of the guys.” 

The Yankees’ next goal is to chase down the Rays, who have a 5-game lead with less than two weeks to play. That includes four games at Yankee Stadium; this series could decide the AL East. 

“When we’re at full strength, I feel like we’re unstoppable,” said pitcher Will Warren. “I think we’re a really good team, and we can do more. This is the baseline. Like, this is what we’re expected to do, so it’s continue to move forward and push the needle.” 

When asked if the Yankees were the team nobody wants to see in October, Warren looked across the locker room towards Judge and grinned.

“Absolutely,” Warren said. “We’ve got Aaron Judge back! I don’t think anybody wants to see us. We’ve got a veteran core that’s been here before, and we’re looking to do big things.” 

The Yankees have fought an uphill battle all summer and hope to keep this momentum to clinch the AL East and return to the World Series.