The New York Yankees are set to begin their postseason campaign in the American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Despite ending the regular season with a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, a victory by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Tampa Bay Rays prevented New York from winning back-to-back American League East titles.
The Yankees finished their season with an eight-game winning streak and a 94-68 record, matching last year’s mark when they reached the World Series. Aaron Judge led the team offensively, posting a .331 batting average to secure his first AL batting title. Judge commented on the recent stretch of games: “These last couple of weeks were pretty fun. We went into a gauntlet of games where people counted us out. We took care of business, especially this last week. We’ve been treating it like the postseason.”
Manager Aaron Boone noted that his team has shown different strengths heading into October. “We can beat you in different ways, but we’ve still got to go out and do it,” Boone said. “We’re a long way away from that. We’re confident going in. I know the guys are, and hopefully we put our best foot forward.”
Instead of receiving a first-round bye, New York will face Boston in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday evening in the Bronx, with Max Fried starting for the Yankees. The game is scheduled for 6:08 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Judge acknowledged fan support throughout challenging periods: “We’ve got a rowdy crowd out there, a rowdy group that’s been behind us all year long,” he said. “Even in our tough times in the summer, they were still showing out in numbers, supporting us. They’re definitely going to be excited for a Yankees-Red Sox postseason matchup, that’s for sure.”
Ben Rice contributed two home runs during Sunday’s win and concluded his first full Major League season with 26 homers and 65 RBIs across 138 games. He described closing out with multiple wins as positive but recognized falling short of winning the division: “Obviously it was a good way to close out the year, with all those wins,” Rice said. “We fell short of the goal to win the division, but now we’re just on to the postseason and just focusing on the [Wild Card] Series.”
Giancarlo Stanton added an RBI single while pitcher Luis Gil allowed two solo home runs but completed five innings with three hits allowed.
Gil commented through interpreter Marlon Abreu about playing in one of baseball’s most competitive divisions: “The AL East is maybe the best division in baseball,” he said.
After suffering an injury during Spring Training that limited him to 11 starts this season, Gil remains uncertain about his role moving forward but emphasized his commitment: “It doesn’t matter,” Gil said. “Whatever the role may be, I’m going to try to help the team. Winning is the most important thing.”
Judge became not only this season’s batting champion but also led Major League Baseball in on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.688). His total of 53 home runs marks him as both MLB’s tallest-ever batting champ and sets a new record for home runs by any player who has won a batting title.
Boone presented Judge with an autographed baseball commemorating his achievement and referenced past batting champions Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew and George Brett as comparable company for Judge.
Judge also received congratulations from DJ LeMahieu—the previous Yankee to win a batting title—who accomplished this during MLB’s shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19 protocols.
“That’s special,” Judge said regarding these honors. “But there’s more work to be done.”
Judge joined Mickey Mantle (1956) and Jimmie Foxx (1938) as only players with at least 50 home runs while also earning a batting title within one season.
