Yankees’ September Brings Brutal Mix Of Rivals And Contenders
New York's next stretch of games will decide their playoff positioning
The New York Yankees are staring down their most demanding stretch of the season.
September opens with a trip to Houston, where the Yankees begin a three-game set against the Astros. The clubs met earlier in August, when Houston left the Bronx with two wins in three tries.
That series fell during a rough patch for New York, but the team has rebounded with a 14-5 mark since Aug. 11, the best record in the majors during that span, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News.
The Yankees still slipped against the White Sox on Sunday, but that loss snapped a seven-game winning streak. They used that run to climb into the top American League Wild Card spot while trimming the Toronto Blue Jays’ division lead to three games.
The Boston Red Sox remain close behind, however, after taking three of four in New York during the same hot stretch.
Critics have pointed out that many of the Yankees’ wins came against weaker clubs, with St. Louis, Minnesota, Washington and Tampa Bay all on the list. Still, their .500 record against winning teams suggests they are not simply feasting on the bottom of the standings.
This month provides the chance to prove it. After Houston, New York will return home for three against Toronto, then welcome Detroit, which leads the AL Central. That gauntlet will be followed by a stop at Fenway Park for another rivalry clash.
The regular season closes on a lighter note with 13 straight games against the Twins, Orioles and White Sox. Before reaching that stretch, though, the Yankees must solve the Astros. The opener features lefties Max Fried and Framber Valdez, with Will Warren and Carlos Rodón scheduled later in the series.
The toughest part of the road begins now.
