Yankees AL East Chances Improve

With their latest nail-biting victory over the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees find themselves just one game behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays with five games to go. The win clinched them a spot in the playoffs, and the possibilities down the stretch are looking more promising.

After the game, The Athletic's Chris Kirschner posted the latest in his series of AL East scenario Tweets, including the five outcomes where the Yankees manage to take the division.

"Yankees have 5 games remaining. A look at whether the division remains in play:
Yankees go 5-0, win division if Blue Jays finish 3-2

Yankees go 4-1, win division if Blue Jays finish 2-3

Yankees go 3-2, win division if Blue Jays finish 1-4

Yankees go 2-3, win division if Blue Jays finish 0-5"

Toronto will face off against the third place Boston Red Sox for two more games before a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, currently in third place in the AL Wild Card. Under Kirschner's Tweet, one fan commented, "I'm the biggest Red Sox Fan in the world the next two days."

With a playoff berth guaranteed, the Yankees will finish their series with the White Sox before hosting the Baltimore Orioles, who they defeated 3-1 in their last series. The Yankees are still determining who their third starting pitcher might be for the third game of a potential Wild Card series, with Max Fried and Carlos Rodón considered to be certain. The battle over the next five games will take place between Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil, who started in this latest win against the White Sox.