Jazz Chisholm Jr. had blunt reaction to Rays clinching AL East at Yankee Stadium

The New York Yankees' chances of winning the American League East ended Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium when the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the division with a 6-1 win. 

The Yankees are set for the top wild-card spot in the AL, which means they will host the first-round series. 

Yankees players react to Rays winning division in their stadium

Still, losing the AL East title to a team at home is never exciting, and Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a blunt take after watching the Rays celebrate in the Bronx on Tuesday. 

“It kind of sucks,” Chisholm said, via Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. “That’s what we work on all season, but it’s not the end goal for us. That end goal is the World Series, so it doesn’t really affect us here.”

The Yankees last won the AL East in 2024, when they made a run to the World Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they have won the AL East just three times since 2013. Yankees pitcher Max Fried also reacted to the Rays winning the division in the Bronx. 

“You don’t want anyone to be celebrating at your stadium,” Fried said. 

For the Yankees, there is a chance that they face the Rays in the Division Series. The first-round matchup looks like it will be against the Boston Red Sox once again.