Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees have punched their ticket to the postseason, securing their spot with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday. This win marked the Yankees as the first American League team to clinch a playoff berth this season.
In the aftermath of the win, Yankees captain Aaron Judge delivered a clear message: “The job’s not finished.”
While excited about clinching the postseason, Judge emphasized the team’s primary goal—winning the division title.
“We definitely know the job’s not finished. We want the division,” Judge said during the team’s postgame celebrations. “But to get an opportunity to punch our ticket back into the postseason after last year, missing out, it means a lot. We’ve got a special group here, and the boys are definitely excited.”
Yankees Positioned for AL East Title
With their victory, the Yankees improved to an 89-63 record, leading the American League. They hold a five-game advantage over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East with just 10 games left in the regular season.
This is the Yankees’ largest lead of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a more critical time.
The Yankees are also in pursuit of a top-two seed in the American League, which would grant them a bye through the wild-card round and ensure a spot in the AL Division Series. Currently, they hold a seven-game lead over the Houston Astros and possess the tiebreaker, giving them a strong advantage in that race.
Their next big test will come next week when they host the Orioles for a pivotal three-game series at Yankee Stadium. While New York has the edge in the standings, Baltimore holds the tiebreaker between the two teams, having won their season series 6-4.
A Year of Redemption for the Yankees
New York’s 2024 campaign is a stark contrast to last year, when they finished fourth in the AL East with an 82-80 record and missed the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade. This year, the Yankees have rebounded in remarkable fashion, making the playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
Since the wild-card era began in 1995, they have made the postseason 25 times in 30 years.
The difference this season has been health and the contributions of newly acquired players. In the offseason, the Yankees pulled off a blockbuster trade for star outfielder Juan Soto during the Winter Meetings, and the move has paid dividends throughout the summer.
Alongside Judge, Soto has provided consistent offensive firepower, with both players reaching historic milestones.
Historic Duo: Judge and Soto Shine
Judge and Soto have become the third Yankees duo in history to each hit at least 40 home runs in a single season, joining legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. Their offensive brilliance has been at the heart of the Yankees’ success.
Manager Aaron Boone described their impact as “historical,” and their performances have been instrumental in bringing the Yankees back to the top of the league.
But it hasn’t been just the star power. In Wednesday’s clinching game, left-hander Nestor Cortes delivered a gem, tossing six scoreless innings. Veteran Anthony Rizzo provided the clutch hit in the 10th inning, driving in the go-ahead run with a double.
The game wasn’t without drama—closer Clay Holmes blew his 13th save of the season—but the Yankees’ resilience showed as they pulled out the victory.
Eyes on October
Despite the celebration, the Yankees remain focused. Securing their 59th postseason berth, the team is hungry for more. After a low-key champagne toast when they clinched the AL East in 2022, the Yankees pulled out all the stops this time, knowing the journey to the postseason has been filled with obstacles.
Yet, with the postseason looming, their sights are set on bigger goals.
The Yankees, with their powerful lineup and battle-tested rotation, are poised to make a deep run in October. Their quest for a 28th World Series championship is just beginning, and with Aaron Judge, Soto, and a rejuvenated team, the Bronx is buzzing with excitement as playoff baseball returns to Yankee Stadium.
