Bronx Bombers Look To Make Final Push(Opinion Piece)-Draft

As October rolls around most MLB teams know if their seasons will end this week or if they have a shot of lasting till November. Every team in the NL now knows their season's fate as all five playoff spots have been filled. The AL is a very different story as the Rays, Astros, and White Sox have all won their divisions and locked in their playoff spots, but the two remaining wild card spots are completely up for grabs. No team has clinched a spot yet and four teams are still alive in the hunt. The Yankees sit at the top of the race at 91-68 and are currently three games ahead of the second-place Mariners who are at 89-70 with the Red Sox in third with the same record and the Blue Jays in fourth at 88-71.

Despite sitting in first in the race, the Yankees wildcard spot is still not a guarantee as all four teams in the race have three remaining games. The Yankees up and down season have had plenty of recent moments were making the playoffs looked unlikely but a very strong end to September has pushed them into first place after a sweep against the Rangers and a crucial sweep against the Red Sox. The Yanks then followed it up with a 2-1 series win against the Blue Jays, which were much-needed wins as they have 3 game series against the Rays who are the top AL team. The Yankees magic number is one as one win in their last three games would put them into the playoffs no matter what the other three teams do. They could still make the playoffs with no wins this series but the other three teams in the race all finish their seasons with series against some bottom feeder teams, so finding that last win in this series is essential.

Despite the uncertainty that surrounds this final payoff push, Yankees fans have plenty of reasons to be confident that the bombers season won’t be ending this weekend. The yanks have gotten hot at the right time and are playing like one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Lead by their superstar outfielder Aaron Judge who has put together an MVP caliber season and has been absolutely dominant as of late. It seems no matter how off the team may be playing Judge is always able to keep them in games. From one slugger to another, Giancarlo Stanton has been playing like the player they traded for years ago and even more. Stanton has been playing like an alien sent to earth to rip the leather off baseballs. In the series vs the Red Sox, he made the green monster seem like a little league outfield fence as he sent ball after ball over it. The duo of Judge and Stanton terrorized the Red Sox pitchers and lead the yanks to sweep over their biggest rival who they are likely to see soon as they both are the favorites to be in the wild card. It's not only the hitters who should give fans confidence, the pitching has been great too. Aroldis Chapman who has had some very low points this year has been pitching like the top closer he has always been. When Chapman is playing as he should there is no reliever in baseball as scary to go against for opposing hitters than him. Looking at others in the bullpen, it seems the yanks have finally found the middle of their bullpen. They haven't had relievers who can go in and give you multiple innings all year but it seems they got the guys to do it now with the return of Luis Severino and Micheal King. King wasn't a big name and his return wasn't necessarily waited upon, but his return in September has added another really strong bullpen arm who you rely on for consistent solid innings. On the other hand, the return of Luis Severino is something every Yankee fan was excited for as the once ace pitcher for the bombers has made his way back from injury and almost 2 years of being out. Sevy isn't ready to be added to the starting rotation as he is still being eased back from injury, but him in the bullpen is what the yanks needed and he has lived up to the excitement. Sevy has still only pitched six innings but in those, he's only allowed two hits and zero runs. His ability to provide one to two strong innings mid-game has been huge for the yanks as in the games he has pitched they are 4-0.

Looking at this team there are plenty of reasons to be confident in their playoff chances but the biggest isn’t one player, this team has a certain energy amongst them that they have lacked in many moments this season. It seems that all the players have bought into this team and there is a undeniable chemistry amongst them. These players want to win and want to win together which is the reason they have gotten themselves back into a position to make the playoffs and make some noise. This team has talent piled up but it’s the chemistry and energy they have that’s going to help this team make this final push as they chase number 28.