净水器水龙头2分和3分的区别 Yankees’ AL East title hope is fading, as their playoff path is becoming clearer

BOSTON — The math is not in their for.

The New York Yankees he 13 games remaining in the regular season, but they must make up five games on the Toronto Blue Jays to he a chance to win the American League East.

By losing Sunday’s finale of their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox 6-4, the Yankees fell to four games back of the Blue Jays in the standings. Because of the tiebreaker Toronto holds, its lead is effectively five games in the AL East. FanGraphs now estimates the Blue Jays he a 92.4 percent chance of winning the division.

Based on remaining schedule strength, the Yankees he the easiest path to the end of the season among all MLB teams, with their opponents holding a combined .438 winning percentage. If they finish the season 10-3, all the Blue Jays must do to win the division is go 6-7.

The Yankees finished their difficult early September stretch at 7-5 against playoff teams (Houston Astros, Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and Red Sox). In the Blue Jays’ last 12 games, they went 8-4, including a three-game sweep over the Baltimore Orioles, which the Yankees play seven times over their final 13 games.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked to evaluate how his team performed over the last 12 games, but he wasn’t interested in looking back.

“We got another playoff game tomorrow,” Boone said. “That’s how I look at it.”

Steven Matz beats a sliding Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the first-base bag in the seventh. (Winslow Townson / Getty Images)

The Yankees’ best hope for the playoffs at this point is to become the top team in the wild-card race. That would allow them to host a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. After winning two of three against the Red Sox this weekend, the Yankees are 1 1/2 games ahead of their rival for the top spot. If the standings remained the same, this weekend’s series was a preview of what the Yankees could expect to see in the first week of October.

Even though the Yankees won this series, playing Boston in a short series in the playoffs would not be ideal. The Red Sox would likely start their ace, Garrett Crochet, in Game 1. The Yankees he faced Crochet four times this season, and the Red Sox he won each of those matchups. In Crochet’s last 18 starts, the Red Sox are 15-3. Crochet has a 3.29 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings pitched against New York this season. He tied his season-high with 12 strikeouts in Sunday night’s start.

Boston could then start Brayan Bello in the second game. He has historically had success against New York, despite allowing four runs in Saturday’s game. Bello still holds the lowest ERA (2.35) against the Yankees among all starters with at least 10 outings against them in the past 25 seasons.

And if the Red Sox he a lead going into the ninth inning, the game has essentially been over for their opponents. Aroldis Chapman has a 1.28 ERA this season and has blown only two se chances. The Yankees he more talent than the Red Sox, but in a short series, they should hope to see a different club in the first round.

Remaining schedules for Wild Card teams TeamCurrent StandingsFirst Series Second SeriesThird SeriesFourth SeriesYankees--3 @ Twins4 @ Orioles 3 vs. White Sox3 vs. OriolesRed Sox 1.5 GB3 vs. Athletics3 @ Rays3 @ Blue Jays3 vs. TigersAstros 2.5 GB3 vs. Rangers3 vs. Mariners3 @ Athletics3 @ AngelsRangers2 GB of Astros3 @ Astros3 vs. Marlins3 vs. Twins3 @ GuardiansGuardians2.5 GB of Astros3 @ Tigers4 @ Twins3 vs. Tigers3 vs. RangersMariners AL West Leader3 @ Royals3 @ Astros3 vs. Rockies3 vs. Dodgers

If the Yankees could choose their potential opponent in a three-game series — and it is wild to think about considering their history — it would be the Astros.

Since the All-Star break, the Astros rank 14th in starting rotation ERA and 18th in bullpen ERA. Josh Hader, their All-Star closer, might not be ailable to pitch by the start of October. Framber Valdez and Cristian Jier he been shaky over the last two months. Their offense has also been abysmal since the break, posting the majors’ 23rd-best wRC+. Jose Altuve has been a below-erage hitter during this stretch, but Yankees fans would likely not feel relaxed with him in the batter’s box in the postseason.

All of the scenarios will sort themselves out over the final two weeks. However, for the Yankees to he their highest likelihood of success in October, they need a couple of things to happen: The bullpen to emerge and figure out its season-long issues, and Aaron Judge to hit like Aaron Judge.

The latter has arguably been the Yankees’ most significant problem in recent postseasons. Over the past week, Judge has been in one of those modes where he is impossible to get out. If that remains the case into October, he could single-handedly carry the Yankees’ offense.

“He’s looking down the barrel of another MVP,” Crochet said. “I don’t think it’s been a secret since he entered the league that he’s one of the best players, if not the best.”

Aaron Judge is batting .353/.507/.784 with seven homers in his last 15 games. (Winslow Townson / Getty Images)

The Yankees should not be in this position, sweating the unpredictability of a three-game wild-card series, but their misfortune during the summer brought them here. They once held a seven-game lead in the AL East, only for it to evaporate with little hope of reclaiming the top spot.

Boone made an observation before Sunday’s finale that could be worrisome no matter who his club might face in a potential wild-card showdown.

“This is my eighth year, and it feels like probably the most parity that I’ve seen,” Boone said of the sport. “I feel like, more than ever, going into a series, every team can kind of beat you.”

(Top photo of Will Warren: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)