MLB players, experts throw cold water on Yankees' playoff chances in ESPN rankings

In accordance with the onrush of October, ESPN's baseball division cobbled up a panel of experts, scouts, and fellow players to discern between genuine threats and pretenders for this year's MLB playoffs. The noteworthy figures and players — some who remained anonymous, some who used their names to great effect — were asked to choose between the teams with MLB's two best records (the Dodgers and Phillies), then rank the chief threat to their throne.

When it came to separating LA and Philly (please be the NLCS), the group of 13 favored Bryce Harper's group by more than a 2:1 margin. Something about the Dodgers pitching staff doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of the playoff-hardened Phillies, it seems. Regardless of how this one tips, it'd be a dream matchup in terms of both ratings and intensity.

But ... who's in the rearview? Will any NL teams spoil the bracket? Any AL teams that could match up with either club in the Fall Classic look particularly scary?

According to the masses, both clubs should be very afraid of the Padres and Brewers, with the Yankees finishing tied for fourth in the "threat rankings," situated behind Baltimore.

Yankees rank in middle of the pack as October threat, per ESPN's MLB Playoffs panel

Are you sure? That can't be right. Did they miss the Death Lineup on Tuesday or something? Th-they watched it? Watched it score zero runs and never threaten to crack Seth Lugo's rhythm? Got it.

Clarke Schmidt, asked his thoughts for this piece, but instructed to exclude the Yankees, told readers not to sleep on Milwaukee. Ironically enough, the AL scout who tossed the Yanks aside noted their bullpen woes as a reason to downgrade their chances, something Schmidt could theoretically play a role in fixing.

Chin up, though, Yankee fans -- the Houston Astros, somehow, only received a single vote as a top-tier threat, and based on the way he spoke about them in the piece, it seems likely it came from Ryne Stanek, who used to be on the team. None of the outsiders believe in Houston, even though they've earned your belief year in and year out since 2017? Maybe the Yankees are in good company in the disrespect pile, actually.