John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees have their second to last off day of the season as they travel across the border to face the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow night. This is a much-needed day off as they reflect on a disheartening series against the Boston Red Sox, in which they were swept in an ugly fashion.
The bullpen is taxed and overused, Alfonso Soriano and Alex Rodriguez are nicked up with lingering injuries, and the whole team needs a break. Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays face the Texas Rangers, who have identical records and each hold a wild-card spot. That means, no matter the outcome of that matchup, the Yanks will gain a half game in the playoff race; they were officially eliminated from AL East contention after their loss last night. This is the earliest the Yankees have been eliminated from the division contention since 1992.
The good news is that what the Yanks are to the Sox, the Jays are to the Yankees; New York is 13-3 against the team from Canada. In even better scheduling news, every team the Yankees face for the rest of the season are in last place except for the Rays, who are playing sub-par right now. So, even after an embarrassing rout by the Red Sox’ hands, the Bronx Bombers still have their destiny somewhat in their own hands. It all starts with Toronto tomorrow night. A sweep is almost necessary, and the Jays are the perfect platform for the final run of the season. So hopefully they can get the bad taste of Fenway out of their mouths and start anew at the Rogers Centre.
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