After two huge series wins at Tampa Bay and Boston, the Yankees have seemingly found their stroke at the most important time of the season.
The Yankees are turning it on at the perfect time. The Bronx Bombers entered this past week’s seven-game road trip coming off a frustrating loss to the Orioles — and with their minds set on wrapping up home-field advantage for the AL Wild Card game against Oakland.
Let’s just say the Yanks exceeded expectations.
After last weekend’s series with the O’s, things were not looking too positive the Yankees. Shortstop Didi Gregorius and OF Aaron Hicks were both injured on the same play that, ironically, clinched the Yankees their 54th postseason appearance. Then the next day, the team blows a game in which Orioles starter throws four pitches before leaving the game with an injury.
Just when fans thought the team could not catch a break, not only did the Yanks have their best road trip of the season, but they received great signs along with it.
More from Yankees News
- Diamondbacks outfielder’s comment on Carlos Rodón’s IG raises eyebrows
- Aaron Judge Time interview scared Yankees as much as it scared you
- Why weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?
- Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in Boston
- Yankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for Pirates
In the four-game series with the Rays at Tropicana Field, the Bombers won three out of four and outscored Tampa Bay 32-12. The bats came alive after a series with the Orioles that was full of offensive concerns.
In Boston, the Yankees clinched home-field advantage, setting the single-season team home run record, recorded their 100th win and got a strong indication of Hicks and Gregorius’ health.
Even with their impressive 5-2 road trip, the Yanks will still need to answer one question: Will recent success translate into Postseason success?
Most people who watch baseball will agree that no matter what their regular season record is, the team that is playing the best heading into the playoffs should be taken as a serious contender. Arguably, the Yankees are that team, this year in the American League.
After a shaky month and a half, the Yanks have found their old selves. Ever since Aaron Judge was activated off the disabled list, the offense has returned to full strength and shown what kind of damage it can do when healthy. In the last seven games, the offense has scored an outstanding 53 runs.
If their starting pitching can hold up long enough before the bullpen comes in and shut things down, this team could be scary. Last year the Yankees rode the momentum they received from the home crowd almost all the way to the World Series.
With the Wild Card game being held in the Bronx, the Yanks have that same chance to carry momentum into the division series. However, the Athletics are not a team to be overlooked.
The A’s come in to Wednesday’s game as one of the hottest teams in baseball. Whether it’s the league leader in home runs Khris Davis (48) or possibly the scariest bullpen in the game, Oakland has all the tools to pull off the win.
With all that being said, the Yankees are the second-best home team in the league with a 53-28 record, behind only the Red Sox.
According to MLB.com’s Yankees Beat Writer Bryan Hoch, among the five AL playoff teams, the Bombers have the best record against the other AL Postseason qualifiers (22-17).
This club has shown how resilient they can be against tough teams, now they will just need to prove they can repeat that success on the biggest stage in baseball, and entering the playoffs on a hot streak can only help.