BRONX, NY — September stretch for the Yankees as many describe a gauntlet with the Astros, Tigers, Red Sox and American League East division leading Toronto Blue Jays with this three-game series in the Bronx. The schedule is in the Yankees’ favor in the final few weeks.
A three-game series at Fenway Park vs. the Red Sox next week is a final hurdle and could present a clearer picture about the Yankees whereabouts next month. Are the Yankees either the top AL Wild Card or still with an opportunity to overtake the Blue Jays for a first round bye in the postseason?
The opportunity awaits because the Yankees conclude by opposing the Orioles, Twins, and White Sox—all teams playing spoiler and heading home in October.
However in division play and with teams in the playoff picture, it’s the Blue Jays and Red Sox. The Yankees 5-16 combined against Toronto and Boston, two teams that pose a concern and 17-23 overall versus teams in the AL East. The Blue Jays 7-1 win Friday night continued to be a concern for the Yankees.
Already, Toronto had clinched the season series. A tiebreaker is secured for the Blue Jays, though that won’t be necessary. With 20 games remaining the Yankees have an outside chance to overtake the Blue Jays for the division title, but barely.
This is the series, in all likelihood a determining factor for the Yankees and their quest for the division crown. Either way, the Yankees are playoff bound but a first round bye is almost out the window. Toronto is four games ahead.
Regardless, the Yankees touched down and arrived in New York at 4:00AM ET, this after a grueling and confusing three-game series in Houston concluded with the rival Astros Thursday evening. No excuses but the Yankees looked flat, though a MLB schedule not providing a reasonable getaway afternoon finale would have been more appropriate.
Manager Aaron Boone was not making excuses about the schedule. The Yankees once again saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 22nd career home run against them in the fifth inning, 16th at Yankee Stadium and knocked in four runs.
The Blue Jays are efficient at taking pitches and causing a pitcher to work the pitch count, their proficiency of hitting foul balls at the dish.
“His stuff was good but 40 pitches in the first made it long on him,” Boone said about rookie starter Cam Schlittler who lasted 1-⅔ innings because the Blue Jays lineup, as Boone said, fouled off pitches that were executed well.
The fastball and breaking ball had life. But the Blue Jays are better at executing than the Yankees potent lineup of home run hitters that lead Major League Baseball, Giancarlo Stanton with home run number 19 in the second inning.
It was George Springer also, Bo Bichette with a broken bat RBI double and sac fly in the second providing that early life for the Blue Jays off Schlittler. It was not a Yankees night, realizing perhaps time may be running short to overtake the Blue Jays if they don’t win the next two games of this series.
A sweep would just about assure the division is headed to Toronto, then again it’s not over until the numbers say so.
“I can’t go an inning and two thirds against a division rival,” said Schlittler (2-3.) “At some point I have to adjust too.” Blue Jays Kevin Gausman (9-10) allowed four hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked one. Again, sluggish Yankees should not be an excuse, rather their lineup and difficulty handling Gausman’s fastball, changeup, and curveball.
Sure the Blue Jays are confident with 20 games remaining, and they have every reason to not feel otherwise as they seek their first division title since 2015.
“That’s our dream and everyone in there is on the same page,” said Guerrero Jr. through an interpreter regarding the Blue Jays division title hopes. “There’s still 20 games and a lot to do, but we’ve got to come together. We’ve got to keep competing and playing hard.”
Guerrero Jr. also said, “Huge to score early, of course. But we try to score every inning. We’re trying to get the starter out of the game as soon as possible.”
Leave it to Guerrero Jr., an AL LatinoMVP in 2021, who can drive their offense. And for the Yankees to leave it to what remains on their schedule after this series and keeping Guerrero Jr. from hitting another one out of their yard.
“They’ve certainly had our number to this point.” Boone said about the Blue Jays success against his team.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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