This season, the New York Yankees lead the American League in record. The Houston Astros, not the Yankees, are still seen by several MLB insiders as the team to beat in the AL playoffs, despite their dominance during the regular season. The Astros did New York a significant favour on Saturday, even though Yankees supporters are undoubtedly offended by the idea that Houston would have the postseason advantage.
Houston defeated the Guardians of Cleveland 4-3. The Yankees will have home field advantage throughout the American League playoffs thanks to the victory, as reported by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
With one game remaining, New York leads the Guardians for the best record in the AL. However, this year’s season series versus Cleveland was won by the Yankees. Therefore, even if the Guardians draw and New York loses.
Therefore, as long as the Yankees survive in the postseason, they will enjoy home field advantage, even if New York loses and the Guardians win to even the series.
The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday to win the division title, capping off a nearly full season-long struggle for the AL East. The Astros won the AL West, therefore even though the Orioles have the third-best record in the AL, they will finish as the fourth seed.
New York has benefited from elite pitching by ace Gerrit Cole over the second half of the season. Still, there is cause for some concern for Yankees fans as the team’s potential playoff opponents have the advantage when it comes to pitching.
Nonetheless, Giancarlo Stanton believes New York is the team to beat in the postseason. And it’s easy to see why as Yankees’ slugger and presumptive AL MVP Aaron Judge took a five-game home run streak into Saturday. In fact, Judge is the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 with a five+ game homer streak and a 10+ game walk streak at the same time.
Judge was unable to extend the streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday as he went 0-5 and the Yankees lost 9-4 at home. But with the Astros win over the Guardians behind a quality start from veteran Justin Verlander, New York wrapped up the top seed in the AL. After pitching six innings, Verlander struck out five batters and did not walk any while giving up three runs on seven hits.
