Despite experiencing frustrating stretches and being without captain Aaron Judge for more than three months, the New York Yankees were able to clinch their third consecutive postseason berth last Monday night.
With the MLB playoffs less than a week away, it's an opportune time to examine New York’s potential nightmare matchups and scenarios. The recent news that Judge will likely not be ready for the start of the playoffs due to a calf strain has forced many to wonder what the team’s ceiling could be.
October baseball is often decided by injuries and individual matchups. Still, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has remained steadfast in his belief that internal expectations have not changed.
“We’ve played much of the year without him, and for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job,” Boone told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “Obviously, you always want your best player in the mix. But we understand we’ve got a job to do and an expectation to win. I think that expectation doesn’t change, with or without him.”
Yankees seem destined to face Red Sox in American League Wild Card
After Tuesday night’s 6-1 win over New York, the Tampa Bay Rays officially clinched the 2026 American League East crown, ending the Bombers' chances to attain the top seed in the AL side of the tournament.
“It kind of sucks. That's what we worked on all season, but it's not the end goal for us,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. told reporters after. “The end goal is the World Series.”
Such a reality likely means the Yankees will face the Boston Red Sox in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. While any team would have certainly preferred to win their division and attain a bye, New York’s situation is more complex given they will have to face a true rival that they see numerous times during the regular season.
The Yankees went 7-6 against the Red Sox this season and were notably better during their final last series against them at the end of August. But battles between the two squads have been historically close.
New York won a tight Wild Card Series against Boston in three games last postseason and could be in for a similar challenge regardless of initial optics, especially if Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet can return in any capacity.
Article Continues BelowBarring a wild turn of events, the nightmare seeding scenario has already occurred, and that may not be the only possibly problematic matchup.
There is 1 team the Yankees should not want to face in a potential ALCS
If the Yankees overcome the Red Sox in the first round and then get past the Rays in the ALDS, many would lead you to believe they would be in perfect position to make a World Series appearance.
This may seem true if one only chooses to look at the standings, but can any fan or pundit argue that New York should feel good about potentially facing the Houston Astros in the ALCS?
The current AL West standings suggest Houston has a decent chance to win the division and edge out the Texas Rangers. Of course, this year’s Astros are much less formidable than the groups that have previously tormented the Yankees in October, but familiar names like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Hunter Brown are familiar faces that may present an issue in a best-of-seven series.
Across 83 games against the Yankees, Altuve has hit 15 home runs, recorded a .270 batting average, and posted a .791 OPS. Alvarez has mashed 11 home runs, put up a .317 average, and earned a .992 OPS over 38 contests against the Pinstripes.
Even if the Yankees, potentially without Judge, are the more talented club, the Astros may represent a real threat given the success they’ve had against them overall.
Anything can happen in the postseason, and while the Yankees boast a strong roster despite injuries, there are certain situations looming that could spell trouble.