Yankees Defeat Rays to Clinch Playoff Berth, Need Two Wins For AL East Crown

The Yankees helped out the Red Sox on Wednesday by defeating the Rays, 4-2. At the same time, they also clinched a spot in the playoffs.

The magic number to clinch the AL East for the Yankees is now just two games, and they are in position to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Yankees join the Tigers as the only AL teams to have clinched a playoff spot, and the Phillies are the only team to clinch a spot in the NL.

Thanks to the Yankees, the Red Sox now have a chance to extend their wild card lead to three games when they host the Orioles tonight in the final home game at Fenway Park this season.

If the Red Sox can do their part to secure the wild card, fans might be looking at another Sox-Yankees ALCS.