From Bryan Hoch:
The bases were full in the fifth inning on Saturday as Aaron Judge stared at a pair of called strikes ruled to have nicked the inside corner. The Yankees disagreed; Aaron Boone howled from the dugout, earning his Major League-leading seventh ejection, tossing his gum as he stormed off the Yankee Stadium diamond.
Judge nodded, appreciative of his manager going to battle, then got back to work. Having already slugged his 53rd home run, the captain ripped a two-run single to help seal the Yankees’ 6-1 victory over the Orioles, firming his case for a third American League Most Valuable Player Award with the postseason looming.
“It was definitely a big spot where we put the game out of reach,” Judge said. “I didn’t agree with the calls, but you’ve got to stay focused. It only takes one pitch. That’s why you get three strikes.”
Giancarlo Stanton also belted his 453rd career homer, surpassing Carl Yastrzemski (452) for sole possession of 40th place all time. Winners of seven straight, the Yankees (93-68) will enter the season’s final day with the AL East race hanging in the balance, still tied atop the division but with the Blue Jays holding a head-to-head tiebreaker.
Put simply: A New York win coupled with a Toronto loss would make the Yankees division champions. Otherwise, they’ll host the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium beginning Tuesday.
“It’s exciting,” Judge said. “I wish we had a nice little cushion, a nice little lead in the division, but we’ll take it either way.”
I mean, whatever, if they don’t get in, it’s all on them, ya know? They’re clearly a better team than Toronto, they just played like shit for, like, TWO MONTHS. What do you expect?
But hey, they at least have a CHANCE.
Jazz Chisholm got hit in his forearm, but his X-Rays and his CT scan were both clean, so that’s good.
The featured image is Cam Schlittler getting a standing ovation after an excellent seven innings. It’s going to be SUPER fucking weird that his debut against Boston might come in the playoffs (stress might, as Boston will likely sweep them in two games).
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Yanks a -180 favorite today. Toronto -195.
Works out to a 21.8% chance of a NYY win and TOR loss. +360.
I don’t want to say it, but… let’s say Glasnow is prone not only to giving up homre runs, but to striking people out. Cal Raleigh struck out 3 times yesterday with no hits, while Judge did a little bit better than that.
There’s one game left.
You know what I’m not saying.
Man, throwing Gausman out there when, if he loses and the Yankees win, you lose him for the Wild Card round (I guess he could start Game 3 on short rest) is such a ballsy move.
I would do it. It allows them (Bichette) to heal, if they win – that’s really their best chance to have a big offseason.
At the same time (I use to know players on other teams) the Devils are leading today’s matchup’s starter ERA comparison 2.85 to 3.47. Go, Seymour, I.!
Skipping a crap shoot three game series is well worth the gamble. Would Boone use Fried for an inning with a one run lead late?
Jazz out of lineup.
I’m going to take that as a good sign – usually when players are actually hurt, Boone (Cash?) play them insistently, ignoring the miserable results, until half a year later an arm falls off and they say: oh, he was hurt all this time!
mutts pitching Manaea vs Cabrera
Slang on Sports
Rafael Devers’ 2025 will be the 34th time in MLB history a player plays at least 163 games in a season
Others since 1990:
2008 Justin Morneau
2003 Hideki Matsui
1998 Albert Belle
1996 Todd Zeile
1996 Cal Ripken Jr.
It’s absurd that those last four guys played 163 games. It should only be when there is an extra game due to a playoff (or if you changed teams).