New York – The Yankees are back and they are back with a big bang victory over the Rays. After a decisive 10-4 win at Yankee Stadium over Tampa Bay, the Bombers are now the strongest AL East title contenders.
After almost letting the AL East title lead through their fingers, the Yankees showed their title mettle with a strong performance. They lead that the Rays reduced to just four games from 15 ½ before August is now restored to 5 ½ games after the thrashing this past weekend.
The Bombers scored 20 runs in the final two games of their weekend series and didn’t allow Tampa’s starting pitchers to get past the second inning, increasing their division lead to 5 ½ games with 21 to go. After they dropped the first game of this series, fans began to fear that the AL East title lead would be tied with their losses.
“The convincing way I think they did it impressed me the most,” an overjoyed Aaron Boone spoke when asked about the all-important series victory. He added, “We’re onto the next one. By definition, a 5 ½ games lead feels better but we gotta get ourselves right and whole and play our best.”
Since the Yankees are set to finish their season series against the Rays with a head-to-head record of 11-8, which could be a tiebreaker, the weight of a historic collapse is off their shoulders. This also strengthens their AL East title claim.
The Rays have the second-toughest remaining schedule by winning percentage. Kevin Cash’s team has six games left against the AL’s best Houston Astros and nine against the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto has baseball’s third-toughest remaining schedule.
The Yankees, on the other hand, have the 18th toughest schedule. Their two toughest series are against the Milwaukee Brewers and against the Toronto Blue Jays, which are also their last series. Even if the Bombers’ big weekend was just a one-time thing, they are back in the lead.
If the Yankees finish 10-11, the Rays must go 18-6 to win the division. The Blue Jays would need an 18-5 record to win the AL East title, and Toronto will play nine games against Tampa.
The Bombers have a more favorable schedule and are getting their key players back. Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson returned to the Yankees lineup this weekend.
“I don’t think you can understate that; you get two premium guys back and have good at-bats,” commented Boone. He continued, “You saw good at-bats up and down the order and that allowed us to put up a big number both days.”
The Yankees are also set to get DJ LeMahieu and Harrison Bader boost this weekend. They expect to field Luis Severino and Scott Effross too. Anthony Rizzo’s epidural headaches were cured by a blood patch procedure.
In the middle of a battle for first place in their division, the Yankees keep getting reinforcements at the right time. Their last two wins have given them a big part of the power to decide their own future and the AL East title. Now, all they have to do is to let their offense speak at the right time, as they look toward October.
Can the Yankees win the AL East title? How do you see their October performance?
