A year ago, the New York Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention with just a week left in the regular season, ending their streak of six straight postseason appearances.
Recalling that experience made it feel even better to secure a playoff spot with more than a week remaining this time.
“We’ve been through a lot already this year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We understand it’s just a first step — but it’s an important one. We’re in the dance.”
After missing the playoffs last year, the Yankees clinched their spot in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
Nestor Cortes, who pitched six scoreless innings, said this Yankees team is motivated by the disappointment of last season as they head into October.
“Last year we were out of the playoffs. Sour feeling for us,” Cortes said while New York players celebrated in the clubhouse, splashing each other with beer and champagne.
“Coming into spring training, we had one goal, and that’s to make the playoffs, and we’re here. Obviously, the ultimate goal for every team is to be in the World Series and win the World Series.
But as of right now, we’re going to enjoy this moment.”
New York has the best record in the American League at 89-63 and is five games ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AL East with 10 games left to play. This latest win guaranteed the Yankees at least a wild card spot.
This marks the 59th postseason appearance in franchise history, but the Yankees are still looking to end a World Series drought that has lasted since 2009, when they won their 27th title.
“A lot of things have come together,” Boone said. “Probably better health. Definitely an added focus for guys that were coming off tough years. And simply put — we’re better. We weren’t a great team last year and this team has a chance to do something special.”
Last season, the Yankees struggled with a roster full of injuries and were eliminated from playoff contention on September 24. Before that, they hadn’t missed the postseason since 2016, when Aaron Judge had only 27 games of major league experience.
Now, they are heading back to the playoffs with Judge as the MVP favorite in the American League, another star hitter in Juan Soto, and a starting pitching staff that may have enough depth to help the Yankees make a deep playoff run.
“(It’ll) definitely be exciting, especially after the season we had last year missing out on the postseason,” Judge said. “That’s what we came into the season to do, get into the postseason and give ourselves an opportunity to go out there and win a World Series.”
The goal for the final stretch is to make sure their return to the playoffs comes as champions of the AL East. The recent slump by the Orioles has created a gap in the division race, providing some cushion that could lessen the tension for next week’s three-game series between the teams in the Bronx.
But it will only stay stress-free if the Yankees don’t stumble in the next few days. After finishing their series in Seattle on Thursday, the Yankees will wrap up their final trip with three games in Oakland.
They hope this will be the last time they have to be away from home for a while.
“Our goal is to win the division. That’s what we want to do,” Soto said. “We’re going to focus on that and try to finish the season strong.”
Soto is a big reason the Yankees are back in the playoffs and may end up with home-field advantage in the American League. While Judge is likely to win his second MVP in three seasons with 53 homers and 136 RBIs, Soto’s contributions have been equally important.
