The New York Yankees pose for a team photo after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays to clinch the American League East division title at Rogers Centre. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees clinch AL East title, first-round bye

By Dan Treacy | Last updated 9/27/22

The Yankees wrapped up the American League East on Tuesday night, earning a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays.

This is the Yankees' first division title since 2019, and it guarantees New York will open the postseason at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 11.

2022 AL East Champs. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/rn0toGGeQw
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2022

With the bye officially locked in, the Yankees know they will face the winner of the wild-card series between the Cleveland Guardians and the AL's No. 6 seed, which the Mariners currently hold. The bye also means the Yankees will have five full days off between the end of the regular season and Game 1 of the ALDS.

The Yankees weren't a popular pick to win in the AL East before the season, after the Rays and Red Sox both finished ahead in 2021 and the Blue Jays upgraded their roster in the offseason. Nevertheless, New York came out of the gate hot and won at a historic rate before the All-Star break. Not even a difficult six-week stretch after the break could prevent the Yankees from winning the division comfortably.

This is only the Yankees' second AL East title in the last 10 seasons.

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