Yankees eye ‘unstoppable’ playoff run after grueling regular season comes to a close in win over Pirates

NEW YORK — After a season of ups and downs, the Yankees hope that a few more highs await them this October.

The American League-East winning club concluded regular season play on Sunday, finishing the year with a 94-68 record following a 6-4, rain-delayed victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium. No team in the AL had a better record than the Yankees, meaning they’ll enjoy home-field advantage prior to the World Series after missing the playoffs in 2023 thanks to a rash of injuries and underachievers.

“It’s huge,” Aaron Judge told the New York Daily News of the Yankees pacing the AL. “Last year, kind of getting kicked in the teeth and knocked down pretty good, not getting into the dance, that woke up a lot of people and opened a lot of eyes about some needs and some things that needed to change around here. Hats off to not only management going out and getting certain players that we needed to fill holes, but I think also to the players in this room.”

With the regular season wrapped, the Bombers are now looking at a first-round bye before the best-of-five American League Division Series. That series will open at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 5

Relatively good health – after Gerrit Cole succumbed to elbow inflammation in the spring– helped the Yankees get to this point, but so did star power. Everyone knew pairing Juan Soto with Judge would form a deadly duo, but the two produced results beyond anyone’s wildest dreams while hitting back-to-back all season.

“When you get to hit behind Juan Soto and see his plate discipline and how he can work at-bats – it’s always a tough at bat – you can kind of pick up things that he does,” Judge said.

Soto, meanwhile, called Judge “the greatest hitter in the world” earlier this year.

“Look at his numbers,” Soto, acquired from the Padres over the winter, continued. “He’s just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances a little bit better. When you hit in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches, so he’s the greatest one.”

Judge is now waiting for his second MVP award after slashing .322/.458/.701 and leading the majors with 58 home runs and 144 RBI. Soto would have had a strong case for his first MVP if not for his teammate, as the impending free agent hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBI.

While occasionally overly reliant on those two, the Yankees also added a spark when they acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins before the trade deadline. He provided some pop and learned to play third on the fly.

Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Wells made major contributions. The former enjoyed a bounce-back season despite missing a month with a hamstring strain, clubbing 27 homers while forming a Big Three with Soto and Judge. Wells, meanwhile, emerged as a formidable middle-of-the-order threat while simultaneously commanding the Yankees’ pitching staff from behind the plate.

On the mound, Luis Gil looked like Cole during the reigning Cy Young’s absence. Gil has positioned himself as a Rookie of the Year contender and a possible ALDS starter. The Yankees have to choose between him and Clarke Schmidt, who allowed four earned runs over four innings in Sunday’s soggy season finale.

With Cole looking like his usual self toward the end of his shortened season and Carlos Rodón locked into the Yankees’ ALDS rotation, the club has some time to pick a third starter.

“We feel like we have a tough decision,” manager Aaron Boone said, “but a good decision because we have a lot of confidence in whoever pitches.”

While the Yankees ended up leading the American League, it wasn’t always easy or consistent for the club in 2024. Following a 45-20 start, the pinstripers went 35-41 from June 7 to Sept. 4.

“I feel like we’ve been through a ton as a team this year,” Boone said. “To end up with the best record in the American League is something to be proud of. These guys should be proud that they’ve answered every challenge this year. It hasn’t always been easy, but proud of the fact that we’ve put ourselves in this position to take our shot. We’re excited about that.”

Even this past week, the flailing-but-pesky Orioles took two games at Yankee Stadium before the Yankees clinched a division that many expected Baltimore to win. The Pirates then did the same, though the Yankees used some lackluster lineups with stars resting before the postseason.

Now it’s possible the Yankees and Orioles will face each other again in the ALDS. However, the Royals will get a shot at Baltimore first.

“You could pick whoever you want ahead of the year, ahead of playoffs,” Stanton said. “If you don’t show up and do the work, get it done, it’s not gonna happen.”

Several question from the regular season will linger once the Yankees begin postseason play. The bullpen may be the biggest.

While the unit has stabilized lately – Luke Weaver has excelled as the team’s unofficial closer since Clay Holme s was stripped of the job – the Yankees have a limited circle of trust and are counting on unknowns and bargain bin finds in high-leverage situations. Holmes will also be called on for big outs, even if he won’t be the one finishing games.

As for the lineup, Anthony Rizzo’s fractured fingers, suffered on the second-to-last day of the season, clouded the Yankees’ playoff plans at first base. Ben Rice was recalled Sunday, and Boone said he could play “a big role for us” if Rizzo can’t tolerate the pain in his right hand.

What the Yankees do in left field will be a topic of daily intrigue in October. Jasson Domínguez has been a defensive liability since his highly-anticipated promotion, while Alex Verdugo was a below-average hitter this season. Both players come with flaws.

The same can be said of Anthony Volpe. While the second-year pro plays a Gold Glove shortstop, his sophomore season didn’t ease concerns over what type of hitter he will be.

With all that said, other playoff teams have problems of their own. With their postseason ticket punched, the Yankees believe they’re the team to beat.

“If we play our best baseball, we’re as good as or better than anyone,” Boone said. “We can’t wait to go get after it, and I believe in these guys.”

Those guys believe as well.

According to Chisholm, the Yankees’ clubhouse talks about winning a World Series every chance it gets. The organization hasn’t done that since 2009, but Chisholm believes his squad will be “unstoppable” in the playoffs.

“We’re not stopping until we get that ring,” he insisted. “That’s what I’ve been hearing since I got here, and that’s how I feel too.”

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