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NEW YORK — The New York Yankees clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night, but the mood inside their clubhouse was far different from last October’s wild scene.
Following a 3-2 walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium, the champagne flowed, but the celebration carried a restrained tone. The message was clear: the job is not done.
Manager Aaron Boone gathered his team and reminded them of the bigger picture. “We’ve been through a lot already, this is the first box to check, right?” Boone told players. “We’ve gotta get in — we’re in. Don’t take that s–t for granted. We are in the playoffs, we’ve got a lot more to do, right? We’ve got a lot of bigger goals. But enjoy this, celebrate this right now and come get ’em tomorrow.”
The Yankees had every reason to celebrate. Their playoff berth marked another milestone in a season filled with adversity. But unlike their raucous party after last year’s American League pennant, when broken TVs and damaged lockers in Cleveland made headlines, this was measured and businesslike.
Caballero delivers in clutch moment
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
The night belonged to José Caballero, who secured the win with a walk-off single in the ninth inning.
The Yankees entered the final frame trailing 2-1. Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells opened the inning with consecutive singles, only to see momentum stall when Trent Grisham grounded into a double play.
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With runners on the corners and two outs, the White Sox chose to walk Aaron Judge intentionally, bringing Cody Bellinger to the plate. Chicago appeared poised to escape until reliever Brandon Eisert misfired on a full count, sending a wild pitch to the backstop. Volpe raced home to tie the game.
Caballero then worked a grueling nine-pitch at-bat. He fought off several tough pitches before lifting a single into center field. Judge crossed the plate, and teammates rushed out to mob Caballero at first base.
“It’s amazing to touch first base, turn around and see the whole team coming at you celebrating,” Caballero said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
The utility man, acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, has quickly become a valuable piece of the roster. His big moment earned him the team’s championship belt.
Asked if he planned to hand it over anytime soon, he answered without hesitation. “Hell no,” Caballero said. “This is the best time to have the belt. I’m not letting it go.”
Division title still within reach
The Yankees improved to 89-68 and remained just one game behind Toronto in the AL East standings. The Blue Jays still hold the tiebreaker, making the path to a division crown difficult with only five games left.
Boston provided some help by beating Toronto 4-1 on Tuesday. That result kept the division in play. If the Yankees win out against the White Sox and Orioles while Toronto finishes 3-2, the division title would swing to New York.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the division,” Judge said. “It’s still right there for us. We’re excited about getting in, but we got bigger things ahead of us.”
“Every day I think about it,” Chisholm admitted. “When I talk about it, I kind of get upset because it’s just like, I want to win the World Series. I want that ring. So I can’t wait until the playoffs are here.”
The Dodgers did not hold back in their post-championship remarks, criticizing the Yankees for sloppy play. Those words have not been forgotten. “This October, we’re coming to prove a point,” Chisholm said.
Team overcomes adversity
The Yankees’ 2025 journey has been anything but easy. The season began without ace Gerrit Cole, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March. By late May, the team endured a brutal 5-14 stretch, falling into their lowest point of the season.
Between May and August 10, New York managed just a 27-34 record. A 19-game slump during that period left them reeling.
“It’s not fun being on my side because I feel like I can’t do anything for the team inside the field,” said Oswaldo Cabrera, who fractured his left ankle in May. Cabrera stayed engaged and kept morale up through his recovery.
The tide turned in August. The Yankees rattled off a 27-12 run since August 11, the best record in the majors during that span. Improved defense and sharper baserunning addressed the flaws exposed in last year’s postseason.
On the mound, Max Fried delivered as the staff ace with a 2.92 ERA in his first season after signing as a free agent. Carlos Rodón, after two rough years, rediscovered his form with a 3.04 ERA.
“I think the balance of the team is slightly better than last year,” Cole observed. “We have a lot more speed, and we have some contact-oriented players.”
Postseason experience guides veterans
Judge has led by example throughout the year, pacing the Yankees’ lineup and positioning himself for another AL MVP award. His leadership proved vital during the midseason slump.
“Even when we finally finish the deal, we’re still going to want more,” Judge said. “I don’t want to take this opportunity for granted. We got a special group in here. A lot of guys that might not be back wearing pinstripes.”
The Yankees’ playoff berth is their eighth in the past nine seasons and the 60th in franchise history, the most of any team in Major League Baseball. Their experience could prove valuable in October, whether they capture the division or enter through the wild card.
“We are playing our best,” Boone said. “We’re fairly healthy. We’ve got a great opportunity here in front of us.”
As players posed for photos in their “October Baseball” shirts, champagne dripping down their uniforms, the tone was unmistakable. This was only the beginning of their pursuit.
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