Yankees Magic Number: Bombers' checklist still incomplete while watching Rays, Red Sox

The New York Yankees' playoff clinch, usually a momentous occasion when it occurs, could be a little weird this year. That's because fans are laser-focused (and rightly so) on both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox ... and basically nobody else.

The Yankees have been all but locked into a playoff spot in the weird-as-hell American League for months now, even in the depths of their struggles (though things did get a little dicey around the Fourth of July for a hot sec). Instead of paying attention to the distance between the Yankees and the No. 6 seed (and, God forbid, the No. 7 spot), fans have been scoreboard watching the Rays and looking to keep their distance over Boston to host the Wild Card round if their division dreams fell short.

That means the playoff clinch magic number has gotten somewhat obscured, and the day is (hopefully) close at hand. Entering the finale against the Colorado Rockies, the Yankees' magic number to finalize a playoff spot is down to 6.

Part of the reason we've largely ignored this number is because we have bigger fish to fry. Another reason is ... well, the AL playoff picture is so muddled that the teams we need to lose keep flipping around like ... frying fish. A combination of six Yankees wins and No. 7 seed losses will get the Bombers to the postseason. Right now, that's the Toronto Blue Jays. Might be the Cleveland Guardians shortly. Could be the Baltimore Orioles soon? Hey, how about we just win six games and handle business ourselves? No matter if/when it happens, there'll still be the Sox and Rays to focus on.

Yankees have business to handle vs. Rays no matter their magic number (with Red Sox in mirror)

While the AL East and AL's No. 1 seed may be a longshot, the least the Yankees can do is make their four-game set with the Rays that begins with a Sept. 22 doubleheader meaningful. The Atlanta Braves have done the Yanks absolutely no favors this week, getting lambasted by the Rays twice at home to cancel out both Yankees victories over the Colorado Rockies. The deficit is now three in the loss column entering Thursday night, though, thanks to a lone Atlanta win. The Rays hold the season series advantage 6-3, and New York needs to sweep the four-game set to somehow capture the tiebreaker. But hey — knock that deficit down to two games, try to win three of four, and hope you can punish the Orioles while the Rays slip up once at Philadelphia to close the season? It would be the same circumstance the Yankees faced last year willing the Rays to victory in Toronto. Last time, the Yankees' prayers didn't earn them a single Blue Jays loss. Maybe this time will be different?

The Red Sox lost twice to the Angels this week, pushing them four games behind the Yankees in the standings (five in the all-important loss column). The Yankees can hold serve with wins during Red Sox off days to avoid losing the loss column advantage. If not, those half-games suddenly become full games and gain legitimacy. The tiebreaker was earned by the Yankees in their final regular-season matchup with Boston, but the goal is for that not to come into play.

Either way, the Magic Number for the checklist's first box is six. And winning helps all pursuits.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow