They endured an 85-game absence from Aaron Judge and rarely had their full complement of starting pitchers available. Yet, the New York Yankees ended up where they almost always do — the postseason.
The Yankees clinched their ninth playoff berth in 10 seasons — and 27th in the past 32 seasons — thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays' 6-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Sept. 14. Detroit locked down the victory shortly after the Yankees took a 7-2 lead over the Minnesota Twins. The Toronto loss ensured the Yankees at least a wild card spot in the American League field.
They still harbor hopes of winning the AL East, entering play Monday four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, who clinched their own playoff berth a day earlier. Yet at 86-63, the Yankees
have proven along with the Rays that they're the most consistent forces in a weak AL field this season.
How they clinched
The Yankees' major league-record 61st postseason berth was clinched even as they were engaged in a tie ballgame with the Twins in Minnesota. Detroit overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-4, eventually scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth following a fielding error by Blue Jays closer Louis Varland.
Tigers closer Kenley Jansen hung on for the save, clinching the playoff spot for the Yankees and keeping the Blue Jays from moving into the No. 3 wild card playoff position, which Cleveland still holds.
Just as the bottom of the ninth began in Toronto, Yankees DH Ben Rice hit a two-run single at Minnesota to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth. Judge followed with his first home run since his return from injury, a three-run shot to give them a commanding lead.
How the Yankees got here
Losing Judge to a rib fracture at the end of May significantly altered the course of their season. Yet the Yankees were firmly entrenched as the No. 2 team in the AL and 1½ games behind Tampa Bay when Judge played his last game May 31 — and retained a two-game lead in the No. 2 slot, just four games behind Tampa Bay when he returned to the lineup Sept. 8.
Their path grew more complicated when Cody Bellinger was placed on the injured list on July 26 with a hamstring strain, scoring three runs or fewer in eight of their next 12 games. But the club fortified itself at the trade deadline, snagging slugging DH/first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. Now that Judge and Bellinger are back, the club has admirable depth.
What's next for the Yankees
Their destiny will soon be right in front of them as Tampa Bay visits Yankee Stadium for four games beginning with a Sept. 22 doubleheader. There are no cupcakes on their remaining schedule, but also no behemoths, as they travel to Minnesota and Arizona before the Rays series and finish with three games against Baltimore.
It's highly likely the club holds onto the No. 1 wild card — and a very likely rematch with the Boston Red Sox in the three-game wild card series, at Yankee Stadium beginning Sept. 29. Should they get past that, the Rays will be awaiting in the AL Division Series.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees clinch playoff berth as Blue Jays lose to Tigers
