The New York Yankees are in a secure position prior to the conclusion of the regular season. While they still have a chance to catch the Tampa Bay Rays and win the American League East title, the likelihood is that they will finish with the second-best record in the American League and earn the top Wild Card spot in the American League.

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That would set up a confrontation with the Boston Red Sox in the opening round of the playoffs. That would be a best-of-3 matchup with all of the games in Yankee Stadium. If the Yankees survive that Wild Card matchup, they would meet the Rays in the divisional playoffs.

The Yankees are breathing a sigh of relief because superstar and 3-time American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge recently returned to the lineup. He had missed more than half the season due to a rib stress fracture. That sigh of relief was cut short when Judge felt tightness in his leg and came out of Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. It is not expected that the leg tightness will cause additional problems.

Fox baseball analyst Erik Karrossaid that Judge may be struggling at the plate since his return, but his presence makes every hitter in the Yankees lineup more dangerous. “It's icing on the cake if he can produce like Aaron Judge,” Karros said. “But just having him in the lineup makes everyone more dangerous. He creates a problem every time he is in the lineup because opposing pitchers have to deal with Aaron Judge.”