
BRONX, NY — The Yankees said in mid February when they assembled for spring training they had to prove their disastrous season of 2023 and missing the postseason was in the past. They were moving forward and destined to return, firmly believing they were a team to beat in 2024.
Sunday they waited, and after a rain delay, their regular season mission was complete, a comeback 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, already postseason bound and their 94-68 finish assured with an AL best record. They will have home field advantage through the AL Championship Series with the third best record in the majors behind the NL Dodgers (98-64) and (95-67) Phillies.

Will the Dodgers and Yankees meet in the 2024 Fall Classic? In Photo: Teoscar Hernández rips a two-run double at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
They expect to be playing baseball deep in October, AL East champions and best record in the league since 2012. Sunday they won their 30th season series (30-18-4) without Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in the lineup. A team that struggled with key injuries and inconsistency, August and September they assured this was not last year.
They got better and a roster of depth could take them deep when they host game 1 of the AL Division Series at Yankee Stadium Saturday awaiting the winner between the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals AL Wild Card Series.

Adley Rutschman and the O’s look to face the Yankees in the ALDS but have to get by Kansas City first in the AL Wild Card – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But these Yankees are confident. Five days without being on the field they say will not lose their momentum, something that is so important in October as wild card teams gain more with a prior series before the ALDS. They will take a well deserved day off then take some swings in the cages at Yankee Stadium with workouts at some point mid week.
“There will be plenty of work to do this week.” said manager Aaron Boone referring to getting a better hold of setting the roster for their best-of-five ALDS. And the Yankees are hoping Anthony Rizzo with two broken fingers can make a comeback to their lineup, deciding if Alex Verdugo or rookie Jasson Domínguez will get the start in left. Both were in the lineup for the season finale, Verdugo delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning.
Verdugo-ahead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dqfqIn5sFN
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 29, 2024
Clay Holmes, who has been regulated out of the closer role came in and got his 30th save and with no difficulty, though that is a question going into the ALDS. Holmes has struggled and the Yankees bullpen the past few weeks had a different look in late innings with Ian Hamilon and Luke Weaver.
Regardless, the Yankees begin their quest for another World Series championship, their 27th coming way back in 2009. In their way are the Houston Astros, their perennial October spoilers, the Cleveland Guardians, and Orioles who battled them for the AL East title neck-and-neck with two weeks left in the season.

Yordan Álvarez (2022 AL LatinoMVP), José Altuve (2017 AL LatinoMVP) and Jeremy Peña (2022 WS MVP), will look to appear in the franchise’s 8th consecutive ALCS – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And don’t sleep on the Royals and Detroit Tigers, wild card entrants, remember last October the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers came out of that field advancing to the World Series with momentum
The Tigers had the best record in baseball during the September stretch and last month took two two of three from New York, including a Holmes blown save on Sunday night at the Little League World Series Classic in Williamsport, PA.

Parker Meadows hit a walk-off single against the Yankees in the 2024 Little League Classic back in August – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
All of that is in the past, even though the Pirates played their last game of another dismal season in the Bronx as if it was their last gasp to reach the postseason.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Verdugo said. “Everybody is really confident with each other and with themselves. We know what we can do as a team. We understand the job at hand and what we have to do for the playoffs so it’s going to be fun.”
Fun, yes but intense as the postseason is. The Yankees were sitting home last October and a franchise that is not accustomed to being on the outside.

The Yankees had a 12-win improvement from 2023 to 2024 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“I think we match up great with everybody,” said Clarke Schmidt. The right-hander allowed four runs and three hits in 4.0 innings, walked four and struck out five, will be on the ALDS roster but not guaranteed a start with ace Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón (2021 AL LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year) slated to pitch the first two games. He rebounded from a right lat strain and missed three months, finishing with a 2.58 ERA in 16 starts.
“We’ll hash it out and talk through it and try to do what’s best for the club.” Boone said, also not committed to rookie Luis Gil as the third starter. Schmidt said it did not matter if he starts or comes out of the pen. He said it’s about winning a World Series and the Yankees doing what they have to do to get there.
And all along since February, with Soto as that valued addition and Judge with another MVP season, (.322, MLB HR leader with 58, 144 RBI (.458 on-base and .701 slugging percentage) the Yankees always had the potential to return.

Can Juan Soto and Aaron Judge lead the Yanks to an AL Pennant and World Series title? – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
October baseball to them belongs in the Bronx and the time has arrived. Of course anything can happen in October, but they are confident about what they envisioned in February. As a scout of a potential postseason opponent said earlier this week “They are deep, have depth, and healthy to be a team to beat.”
“Good way to go out and enjoy the off day tomorrow,” said Boone. “Hopefully we will be prepared the right way and win a series.” And Saturday the real work begins in what has been their quest since February.
Rich Mancuso is senior writer and contributor Latinosports.com – X (Twitter): @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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