Yankees might be granted playoff wish they didn't think was possible a few weeks ago

It wasn't too long ago New York Yankees fans were lamenting about the possibility of facing the Boston Red Sox (in any capacity) once the 2025 postseason arrives. The fears peaked when they lost three of four to their rivals in August, making a Wild Card series at Fenway all the more realistic.

But as the baseball season does, it has changed on a dime. The Yankees (somehow) look like the most stable team in the WC picture (and the second-most stable AL playoff squad behind the Toronto Blue Jays). New York might not win the division, but all of a sudden their first-round fate is looking more and more favorable by the day.

Obviously, the best-case scenario would be the Yankees winning the AL East. It's still possible. After Thursday night they may only be three games back with nine left to play. But the next best thing? Facing the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card series — or, really, at all.

The Guards (81-71) are surging. They have won seven in a row and 12 of their last 13. They are just 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the final Wild Card spot ... and only 3.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central. In fact, the Guardians control their own destiny because they have three games remaining against Detroit (plus the tiebreaker) with an additional game in hand.

It's not out of the question that they capture the division crown, but at this rate it's becoming more likely they squeeze their way into the Wild Card picture with four games against the Twins and three games against the Rangers remaining (in addition to their tilt with the Tigers).

On the flip side, the Red Sox have three against the Rays, Tigers and Blue Jays — a decidedly much more difficult path for them with six of those coming on the road. They just lost two out of three against the A's, too.

Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are battling it out for the AL West (currently tied for first) with one of them likely grabbing one of the other Wild Card spots. They will face one another in a three-game set this weekend while the Mariners will finish the year against the Rockies and Dodgers. The Astros have the Athletics and Angels.

Yankees could face Guardians in playoff after unexpected AL Wild Card standings flip

There's certainly a scenario where the Sox and one of the Astros/Mariners make it, leaving Cleveland on the outside. But with so little time left, you simply can't deny the Guardians' hot streak against the Red Sox's 6-8 stretch (and the fact Houston and Seattle are going to chip away at one another this weekend).

If it shakes out with the Guardians making their way into the second Wild Card spot (they're only 2.5 games behind the Mariners and Astros), the Yankees will be salivating. They are 19-13 overall against Cleveland in the playoffs, and a dominant 12-5 over their last 17 postseason matchups.

And if the Guardians win the division? That'll bump the scuffling Tigers into the Wild Card picture (or out of the playoffs entirely). The Yankees wouldn't mind facing Detroit at home, either, given how bad their pitching staff and quiet their offense has been. Then, if the Guardians are waiting in the ALDS? It would simply be hilarious. We know ... be careful what you wish for, and all that.

There's still a week and a half left and the playoff picture is far from finalized, but the way everything has silently shifted in the Yankees' favor should give fans some comfort as New York hopefully handles business in their final matchups against the Orioles and White Sox.