Can Yankees shake recent trend in pursuit of AL East crown?

The New York Yankees step back up to the plate Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox after clinching a playoff berth on Tuesday. It was a ninth-inning Jose Caballero single that walked it off and sent the Yankees to the playoffs for the franchise's 60th time. 

The team celebrated the achievement in the clubhouse after the victory, but the players say the job's not finished. Entering play on Wednesday, the Yankees (89-68) sit just a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays (90-67) for the AL East title and the American League's top seed. 

"Our ultimate goal is to win our division, it's still right there for us," Aaron Judge said after Tuesday's game. "We're excited about getting in, but we've got bigger things ahead of us."

"I want every game, I want every single game we play here," Judge added. 

Now that the Yankees have clinched their spot in the postseason, their sights can be set on the division title. 

Can avoid the hangover from Tuesday night's celebration? 

Since 2020, the Yankees have made the playoffs in each season but one (2023), including two AL East crowns in 2022 and 2024. Out of the six playoff or division clinching wins, the Yankees have held celebrations after four: in 2020, 2022 and one for clinching both the playoffs and division title in 2024.

The team has gone 0-4 in the next game following the previous four celebrations. In those games, the Yankees only allowed 4.5 runs per game but have only scored 2.5 runs in those games.

With five games remaining in the season, the Yankees sit one game back in the standings, but with Toronto holding the tie-breaker, the Yankees will need to overtake the Blue Jays' record. 

The schedule is favorable for them to do just that. The Yankees' five remaining games are against the 58-99 Chicago White Sox and the 74-83 Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees have gone 10-5 against these two teams this year and have the second-best record in the league against teams below .500 (44-24), only trailing the Chicago Cubs (48-26). 

The Blue Jays' five remaining games include two against the Boston Red Sox and three against the Tampa Bay Rays, teams they've gone 10-11 against this season. 

Regardless of Toronto, all the Yankees can do is win the games ahead of them. They've been hot as of late (9-3 in the last 12) and will look to stay hot, but can the Yankees avoid the celebration hangover?