WILL THE YANKEES’ “BYE” LEAD TO A “GOODBYE” OR “HELLO” TO THEIR 28th WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP?

Well, unlike last season when the NYY only won 82 games, this year’s team won 94 games and have made their way into the playoffs!  Not only that, but they won the most games in the American League this season, making them the number one seed.  That successful result earned them a “bye” whereby they can simply sit back and watch the #3 through #6 teams play their first rounds with the hopes of even making it to their next playoff level (the level where the Yankees are already).  Those first-round games in the American League consist of the Detroit Tigers (#6 seed) playing against the Houston Astros (#3 seed) and the Kansas City Royals (#5 seed) playing against the Baltimore Orioles (#4 seed).  Because the Yankees have the best record in the American League, they also earned a homefield advantage against whomever their American League opponent becomes – which would be either the Royals or the Orioles for the ALDS (American League Division Series).  The Cleveland Guardians (#2 seed), likewise, would await their opponent of either the Tigers or the Astros (you might want to spell their first syllable with an extra “s”).

As usual, teams always lose some valuable players to injury prior to the playoffs.  In the case of the Yankees, those players include Anthony Rizzo (broken pair of fingers from a hit-by-pitch/he had just regained his decent hitting and great defensive forms), Nestor Cortes (elbow pain/he was pitching to a very good 1.153 WHIP), and Jake Cousins (right pectoral strain/with an impressive 1.053 WHIP).  Cousins may return in time for the first round while Rizzo is iffy for the first round.  Cortes is not expected back at all, but you never know.

Like all of the teams in MLB this season, there was a lack of consistent dominance.  In fact, there wasn’t even a team that won 100 games this season!  That inconsistency and lack of overwhelming dominance makes this season’s playoff predictions overly unpredictable.  Of course, some stats can be weighed, but none overly convincing.  Can the Yankees win it all?  Of course, but that answer could support any of the playoff teams.