NEW YORK — The Yankees advanced to the ALDS on Thursday night, but the 4-0 wild card series victory over Boston came with a heavy dose of worry.
Cody Bellinger could barely run by the game’s final innings. Ryan McMahon flipped violently into the Red Sox dugout on a catch that had his Yankees teammates convinced he was seriously hurt.
With the division series opener set for Saturday in Toronto, the Yankees suddenly face questions about two key players who looked anything but healthy in the clinching win.
Bellinger’s left foot injury raises Yankees alarm
The concern started in the fourth inning and only grew worse as the night progressed.
Bellinger doubled to center field and scored the game’s first run on Amed Rosario’s single. But his slide into home plate immediately looked problematic. The Yankees left fielder landed awkwardly on his left foot, his body twisting unnaturally as he touched the plate.
He stayed in the game. The injury became impossible to ignore three innings later.
Bellinger grounded out and jogged slowly to first base, wincing with every step. The limp was obvious. Afterward, he moved gingerly across the field before trotting back out to left.
Yankees teammates and coaches exchanged worried looks. His mobility was compromised, even though he finished the game.
“I am OK,” Bellinger said afterward. But the visual evidence told a different story. The outfielder would not reveal specifics, only clarifying that it wasn’t a soft tissue issue. That could mean anything from a bruise to a more serious problem.
His plan was to undergo treatment Friday and then test it again. “Ready to roll” for Game 1 in Toronto, Bellinger said. Whether that’s a realistic assessment or postseason optimism remains to be seen.
Yankees lose key offensive weapon if Bellinger can’t go
The timing of the injury is especially concerning for the Yankees. Since arriving in an offseason trade from Chicago, Bellinger has been one of New York’s most consistent offensive players.
“We call him the collector,” Aaron Judge said. “The guy just collects hits. It could be a backside single where a ball falls in or a three-run homer. He always gets on base.”
That consistency has been crucial. Bellinger’s speed and hustle helped ignite Thursday’s Yankees rally. His double set the table. His baserunning turned Rosario’s single into the game’s first run.
“I had a good jump,” Bellinger said. “I was glad I was able to get there.”
Ironically, it was that same hustle that left him vulnerable. His hard slide into the plate produced the awkward landing that injured his foot.
Now the Yankees must worry about his availability at the exact moment his presence is most valuable. Beyond October, the injury could impact Bellinger’s offseason. He can opt out of his contract this winter, a move widely expected. While one play shouldn’t affect his market much, a lingering postseason injury might weigh on how clubs view his durability.
More immediately, it affects the Yankees’ chances. Without Bellinger, their offense loses both power and versatility.
McMahon’s terrifying tumble into dugout
If Bellinger’s situation developed slowly, Ryan McMahon’s scare unfolded in an instant.
The Yankees third baseman entered in the sixth inning as a defensive replacement. Two innings later, Jarren Duran lofted a foul ball toward the visiting dugout. McMahon sprinted after it, eyes locked skyward.
He reached the railing at full speed, made the catch, and flipped headfirst into the Red Sox dugout. His body spun violently. Arms and legs flailed as he disappeared over the railing.
“I thought he was dead,” catcher Austin Wells said.
The crowd gasped, then roared, then fell silent as McMahon vanished into the dugout. Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone all rushed toward the scene.
“I came sprinting out of the dugout because I knew it could be dangerous over there,” Boone said.
For a few seconds, it looked catastrophic. The dugout was cluttered with bats, helmets, and coolers. A bad landing could have meant broken bones or worse.
McMahon somehow escapes unscathed
Before anyone reached him, McMahon climbed out of the Red Sox bench and jogged calmly back to third base.
“He bounced right up, and he was fine,” Wells said. “I was like, ‘Holy s–t, that was crazy.'”
McMahon later admitted adrenaline numbed the immediate impact. The Yankees infielder felt himself hit multiple objects but couldn’t identify what.
“Didn’t really feel anything,” McMahon said. “I’m sure I hit everything in that dugout, though.”
Acquired from Colorado at the trade deadline, McMahon has struggled at the plate but remains a defensive asset. His willingness to chase the foul ball into dangerous territory proved exactly why the Yankees value his glove.
“It happened so quick,” Volpe said.
The play reminded fans of Derek Jeter’s famous dive against Boston in 2004. McMahon dismissed any comparisons. “We’re not going to do that,” the 30-year-old said. “Completely different scale.”
Yankees face nervous 48 hours before Toronto
The Yankees secured their ALDS berth with Thursday’s win. Now they wait anxiously to see how their roster looks when the series begins in Toronto on Saturday.
Bellinger’s limp was real, and his foot injury will require evaluation. He has only one day to recover before facing the Blue Jays. McMahon looked fine in the moment, but hard landings like his often produce bruising and soreness hours later.
The Yankees need both players. Bellinger adds offensive depth and outfield stability. McMahon brings defensive security at third base. Losing either would hurt. Losing both could alter the series.
For now, New York celebrates the win. But beneath the champagne spray, there’s unease about how much it might have cost.
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