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Yankees Have the Advantage as AL East Race Comes to a Head

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The New York Yankees secured their 59th postseason appearance with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night. However, the celebration was tempered by the knowledge that their ultimate goal remains unfinished. Tuesday’s win marked the official clinching of a postseason berth, but the Yankees’ focus has already shifted to securing the division title. With a one-run lead and a stellar performance from five arms, New York demonstrated the resilience that has defined their season.
The traditional champagne showers and postseason-clinching celebrations ensued in the Yankees clubhouse, but the mood was cautiously optimistic. As Aaron Judge emphasized, “The job’s not finished.”

Yankees Division Title Pursuit: Where Things Stand

The  Yankees have seized control of the American League East, thanks to their recent three-game win streak and the Baltimore Orioles’ corresponding three-game skid. As a result, the Yankees now hold a commanding four-game lead over the Orioles. With just nine games remaining on each team’s schedule, the division title is poised to go down to the wire. The AL East crown will be decided between these two contenders, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.

New York’s Remaining Schedule

The Yankees close out their regular season road slate with three games in Oakland. They then return home to host the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates for three games each. The first series should be a brush-by, against a struggling Athletics team looking to find its ground. Still, the Baltimore series looks to remain important, while the Pittsburgh series could be the deal-sealer. 

The Pirates sit far from contention and are also on a losing streak. 

When it’s all said and done, the Yankees need to continue to win and control their own destiny for a division title. A series win in each matchup should get the job done. 

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Baltimore’s Remaining Schedule

The Orioles’ pursuit of the AL East title has hit a snag, but their schedule provides a chance to rebound. After dropping the first two games of their series to the San Francisco Giants, the Orioles face a crucial stretch that will define their postseason aspirations.
Next, they host the Detroit Tigers, who now shockingly trail the Minnesota Twins by just half a game for the final Wild Card spot. The Tigers will be desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive, ensuring a competitive series.
The Orioles then travel to the Bronx for a pivotal showdown with the surging Yankees. New York’s current momentum makes this series a must-win for Baltimore to stay within striking distance in the division.
To conclude the regular season, the Orioles face the Minnesota Twins, who now cling to the last Wild Card spot. This series carries added significance, as it may serve as a preview of a potential postseason matchup between the two teams. The Twins will be fighting to secure their playoff spot, making every game count.

Yankees Pitching Staff Prepares for October

For the most part, the Yankees rotation is established for October. Gerrit Cole is the clear go-to arm, running with the Game 1 starter role. Next up would probably be lefty Carlos Rodón, who’s also established his stuff and had a better second half.  Luis Gil has done well for himself and will be a crucial go-to arm in any elimination scenario. His stuff will set the tone for any game he starts in. 

The toss up will be between Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes. Both guys have held a starter role, and both guys have had bullpen time. Deciding between the two could be a case-by-case basis. 

Clarke Schmidt seems to be back on track and will definitely hold a starter spot to round off the rotation. 

The Stroman/Cortes Dilemma

It is known that both of these guys have plenty of experience in the starter role. It is also known that Nestor Cortes prefers coming in as later relief rather than an opener. Stroman still sees himself as a big-game arm, but his September numbers show the opposite. 

The month of September has him at a 6.75 ERA in 12 innings of work. He holds a .382 average against with 21 hits given up. He’s at a 5.24 ERA since the All-Star break with a .333 average against. 

What’s causing this? Possibly, it’s a lack of ability to stay off the zone and locate his fastball and off-speed stuff efficiently. This year he’s totaled a 35.8% launch-angle sweet spot rate; this number is the highest in his career. Hitters are finding more barrels. 

Cortes’ September has been the opposite, where he’s worked 19 1/3 innings with a 2.79 ERA. His launch angle percentage isn’t too far off, at 35%. However his outings are quality with a decent distribution of off-speed. Five of six of his pitches surpass 20% on put-away percentage. 

At this point, based on the evidence and pitch selection, Cortes would be the guy to give the ball to. Stroman would fit well in long relief and/or a set-up role. 

Still, these two options could be flipped based on scenarios and matchups. A heavy lefty or righty dominant lineup could determine which guy starts, especially when it comes to the three, four, and five guys in an opposing lineup.

Stroman’s repertoire can assist across the pitching charts, especially when hitters will be exposed to his pitch arsenal for less than six to seven innings. This pitching plan may be the best for winning the division and moving forward into the postseason.

 

Photo Credit: © John Froschauer-Imagn Images

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