The Yankees came to Boston with hopes of gaining ground in the division — and left Sunday night with hopes of just staying at the top of the Wild Card standings.
Had New York been able to sweep the Red Sox, the team would only be 1.5 games behind Boston for the lead in the AL East and the guarantee of avoiding having to play a Wild Card playoff game that comes with first place.
Now, after losing all four games – including an extra-innings backbreaker on Sunday night that saw the team blow a 4-1 lead – the Yankees sit 9.5 games behind Boston in the standings, giving the Red Sox the largest division lead in MLB. Boston also won the Twitter battle.
Four on the board. That'll do the trick. pic.twitter.com/dKHr0PrXe1
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 6, 2018
Five on the board**
— Wally (@Wally97) August 6, 2018
Granted, it’s still the first week of August and the Yankees clearly have a mathematical chance to regain first place, but the odds are not in their favor.
With their pitching staff struggling from top to bottom, the Yankees are still without slugger Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez and will be for the foreseeable future. The Bronx Bombers are bombing right now.
And, even if the Yankees were healthy, they might not catch the 79-34 Red Sox. Boston hasn’t won 100 games since MLB went to a 162-game schedule in 1961, but the team is currently on pace for 113 wins, which would be a franchise record.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
