Yankees' Strategy to Keep AL East Dream Alive

The New York Yankees are relying on the Toronto Blue Jays to lose on Sunday to have a shot at winning the American League East. Both teams are tied for first place at 93-68, but the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series against the Yankees.

If the Blue Jays defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees will secure the No. 4 seed and host the wild-card round starting on Tuesday.

Manager Aaron Boone described the situation as "kind of crazy" with the season coming down to the final game. The Yankees must also win against the Baltimore Orioles, who are not expected to make it easy for them.

In case starting pitcher Luis Gil struggles early, Boone plans to rely on his bullpen for the rest of the game. The team is prepared to make strategic lineup decisions based on player availability and matchups.

Right fielder Aaron Judge emphasized the team's focus on winning the current game without dwelling on past results.

The Yankees faced Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish last Sunday, where Bradish performed well, holding the Yankees to one run over six innings. Despite Bradish's strong performance, the Yankees won the game due to Baltimore's late-game errors.

Gil, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, needs to deliver a strong performance to support the team's playoff aspirations. Pitching coach Matt Blake expressed concerns about Gil's performance this season compared to the previous year.

Although rookie Cam Schlittler has been impressive, Gil still has the opportunity to contribute to the team's success in the playoffs.

With the Orioles having no stakes in the game, the Yankees are expected to be motivated for the final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere is anticipated to be energetic, with fans and players looking forward to an exciting day of baseball.