MLB Insider Warns the Yankees May Not Be a Playoff Team

The numbers still look good. The vibes? Not so much.

While Fangraphs gives the Yankees an 88% chance to make the postseason, Ken Rosenthal isn’t convinced. In a recent segment on “Foul Territory”the veteran insider warned that New York’s recent play and the tightening AL Wild Card race make their playoff hopes more fragile than they appear.

“They’re looking at the fifth seed right now, and maybe the sixth the way the Red Sox are coming,” Rosenthal said. “Yes, the Yankees still look good for the playoffs, but I’m not even so sure that is secure the way they’re playing.”

The numbers back up his concern. 

Entering the week, the Yankees held just a half-game lead over the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot. The Rangers, who just added Merrill Kelly at the deadline to bolster their already strong rotation, sit two and a half games behind New York. The Red Sox have surged past them entirely.

Rosenthal noted that Fangraphs’ projections are based on roster strength and schedule modeling.  But he said the Yankees just don’t pass the eye test. 

 “If you’re watching the games… I don’t know that you’re thinking a two-and-a-half game lead over the Texas Rangers is safe.”

He’s not alone. 

The Yankees were swept in Miami over the weekend, and their recent games have been marred by mental mistakes, particularly on the basepaths. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells have each been caught making costly baserunning gaffes in the last week alone, continuing a season-long trend of avoidable errors.

Luis Gil returned to the mound Sunday but looked rusty, adding more uncertainty to a rotation already stretched thin. New York stood pat on starting pitching at the deadline.

So, could the Yankees be the team left on the outside looking in come October?

“Absolutely,” Rosenthal said. “They need to start playing better, and they need to start doing it quickly.”

That means Monday night, when the Yankees face the surging Rangers without Aaron Judge, who is still on the injured list.