New York Yankees: Time to focus on the Wild Card game

The New York Yankees are currently nine games back in the AL East and with the Red Sox playing unbelievably well, its time to focus on the Wild Card.

With the New York Yankees getting swept in Boston this past week, the Yankees currently sit nine games behind the Red Sox for the AL East crown.

With that being said, it is time to shift our focuses from the AL East onto the AL Wild Card.

The Yankees have taken quite the hit in the Wild Card standings since Mid-June when they had the second best record in the league. Now, they lead the Oakland Athletics for the first spot by only four games.

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Now, four games is quite a bit and it’s even more when you consider the fact that they lead the Mariners by seven games who are currently three back of the A’s for the second spot.

But, from Mid-June until the series against the Red Sox, the Yankees led by double digits or close to it for the most part.

So, since the Yanks are nine games behind the Red Sox in the AL East, the Bronx Bombers need to do everything in their power to host the AL Wild Card Game.

The absolute worst case scenario at this point in time for the Yankees would be to play the Wild Card Game on the road.

It’s a shame that one of the three teams in the MLB who has over 70 wins will have to play a game that decides if they play in the playoffs is a shame. But, that’s besides the point. It is what it is and it’s not gonna change this season so don’t worry about it anymore.

Nonetheless, if the Yankees are going to play in the Wild Card Game their best chance to win it is if they host it.

The Yanks will likely be playing either the Athletics or the Mariners to decide their fate on that October evening. If the Yankees had their pick on one of these teams, it would without a doubt be Seattle.

The Yankees have played the Mariners three times so far this season with another series coming up in the second week of September. In those three games, the Yankees won all three by a combined score of 18-10.

The Mariners are not only the better option because of how the Yankees play against them, but also because of their roster come the playoffs. After serving a 80-game suspension for violating the leagues PED policy, their star, Robinson Cano, is back, but only temporarily.

Under the MLB’s current league policy, a player for violating said policy will be ineligible come that season’s postseason. This being said, Robinson Cano would be ineligible to play come the 2018 postseason if the Mariners were to make it.

Against the Athletics, on the other hand, the Yankees are only 2-1 with one of the games going into the 11th inning. In those three games combined, the Yankees are even with the Athletics at a score of 18-18.

With all things being considered the better matchup for the Yankees would be the Mariners who currently trail the A’s by three games for the second Wild Card spot.

But, the Yankees will get to see both teams in back to back weeks in early September and they will get a better feel for the team they will actually be playing.

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Yankees fans, buckle up because it looks like the Yankees will be participating in the AL Wild Card Game for the third time in four seasons.

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