Yankees clinch American League’s first postseason spot of 2024 (original) (raw)

The New York Yankees are back in the postseason.

After missing the playoffs last season, the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Wednesday to clinch at least a wild-card berth. The American League East remains hotly contested, but the Yankees know they’ll be playing in October.

Last season was a rare miss for the franchise, which made the postseason six years in a row before winning just 82 games last year, their lowest full-season total since 1992. This season has been a return to form.

With homegrown MVP candidate Aaron Judge and offseason trade addition Juan Soto forming the best offensive duo in baseball, the Yankees have scored the most runs in the AL. The trade deadline addition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. lengthened the lineup, and the team recently promoted its top prospect, center fielder Jasson Dominguez. Gerrit Cole, the staff ace who missed the start of the season due to an elbow injury, has thrived in the second half.

Start spreadin’ the news! 🗽

The @Yankees have #CLINCHED the AL’s 1st #Postseason spot! pic.twitter.com/haYqszBgG0

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

There are still questions about the Yankees’ pitching staff, and their lineup has some holes, all of which have contributed to a less-than-dominant second half, but the Yankees have remained one of the top three teams in the American League for more or less the entire year. Whether they can hold off the Baltimore Orioles to win the East — and secure a coveted first-round playoff bye — remains to be seen, but the team has star power to suggest a legitimate contention for a championship.

Judge has become the face of the franchise and could win his second MVP award. Soto was acquired from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster trade for five players and has lived up to his billing as one of the best all-around hitters in the game.

Soto, though, is due for free agency in the offseason.

If this is to be Soto’s only season in Yankees pinstripes, it’s going to end with the opportunity to leave a lasting impression in October.

Required reading

• How a big mistake by Mariners’ Julio ​​Rodríguez helped Yankees clinch a playoff spot
• Milwaukee Brewers clinch playoff spot, win NL Central with Chicago Cubs loss
• Early MLB award predictions for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and more
• Ranking each MLB contender’s postseason pitching core — from shutdown to suspect

(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)

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Chad Jennings is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball. He was on the Red Sox beat previously for the Boston Herald, and before moving to Boston, he covered the New York Yankees for The Journal News and contributed regularly to USA Today. Follow Chad on Twitter @chadjennings22