Key Players Down The Stretch
These teams could be the ones who decide who makes the playoffs in the AL this season, or not:
Baltimore: They play the Red Sox 6 times, the Angels 3 times, the Yankees 8 times, and the A’s 5 times. Roughly half of their remaining games impacting the race for playoff spots.
Toronto: They play the Yankees 10 times, the Red Sox 7 times, and the Angels once. This is slightly less than half of their remaining games impacting the race for playoff spots.
Tampa Bay: They play the Red Sox 7 times, the Angels 6 times, and the Yankees 7 times. Roughly half of their remaining games impacting the race for playoff spots.
Seattle: They play the Angels 6 times, the Yankees 4 times, and the A’s 6 times.
The Texas Rangers also have a hand in all this as they play the Angels and A’s 6 times each.
Then, there are the teams in contention that have to go head-to-head.
Boston: They play the Angels 7 times, the Yankees 6 times, and the A’s 4 times.
Los Angeles: They play the A’s 7 times and Boston (see above) 7 times.
Yankees: They play the Red Sox 6 times and the A’s 3 times.
Oakland: They have to play the Yankees, Angels and Red Sox (see all above) 14 times, in total.
For the Yankees, it’s simple – beat Boston and Oakland when you play them – and then root for the O’s, Blue Jays, Devil Rays, M’s, Rangers and Angels when they’re playing other teams.
At least there is a silver lining in this cloud. Sox have 17 games vs top competition while the Yankees only have 9. Now if the Yankees can only win the games where they lead TB by 3 runs.
So true.