Sep 21, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees first base Ben Rice (22) swings through tenth inning grand slam against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Yankees Enter Must-Sweep Situation vs. White Sox

Originally posted on New York Yankees on SI
By Joseph Randazzo | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Yankees won three of four the last time they saw the Chicago White Sox on the road. It's what you look for in a four-game set.

The problem then was that, in the finale, they lost and the Toronto Blue Jays won. It was one of those games where, if the Yankees fall short, eventually tying the Jays for first and missing out on the division because of the tie breaker, they'll be kicking themselves for not winning that last one against a team that has been in the cellar for a few years running now.

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The next three games will be against those same White Sox, but this time they'll be at home in the Bronx. It's safe to say that, if they hope to keep those American League East dreams alive, as they find themselves two out – technically three because of that tie breaker – they can't let up single game against those cellar dweller Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees are aware of how close they are. The young slugger who played hero in that final game against the Orioles, Ben Rice, made mention of their division aspirations following his big blast.

"We've got a chance to still take the division here, and we have some important games coming up," Rice said, according to Gary Phillips of the Daily News. "Every game's going to be more important than the last one, so we just gotta stay on top of it, keep the foot on the gas."

Rice is Nice

Grand Slam for Ben! pic.twitter.com/QVPlv2cn77
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 21, 2025

The Yankees have only themselves to blame if they do fall short. It has less to do with dropping a game in a six-game stretch against teams they should be feasting on, and more to do with the overall scope of 2025. They had a seven-game lead at the end of May, coming off a start where Clarke Schmidt got the win against the lowly Los Angeles Angels. From there, they fell apart.

The Yankees eventually lost that lead after a prolonged slide in July, and an abominable series against the Blue Jays, where bullpen implosions and defensive lapses sealed their fate in the first-place race. They haven't sat atop the American League East since, and their two games out of the division now are as close as they've been since September 7th, when Rice, again, played hero with the long ball. That time it was against the Hall of Famer Max Scherzer.

What an unbelievable at-bat from Ben Rice.

Fell behind 0-2 on two takes against Max Scherzer.

Worked the count to 3-2 and then fouled three tough pitches off in a row.

Then he crushed this heater over the middle for a three-run home run to right.

pic.twitter.com/vYIqJY9hVR
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) September 7, 2025

To quote Lloyd Christmas in "Dumb and Dumber," there's still a chance. It'll just take some luck swinging their way and clean baseball against bad teams. Not to mention a big blast or two. Unfortunately, in games that matter, clean baseball has not been this Yankees' strong suit.

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