Yankees and Brewers Secure First Two MLB Playoff Spots

On September 19, the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees secured their places in the 2024 MLB playoffs, marking a significant achievement for both teams in the National League and American League, respectively.

The Brewers clinched their playoff spot following a loss by the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics earlier that day. This defeat granted the Brewers their third title in the National League Central division in just four years. Later in the evening, the Brewers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1, with Jake Bauers hitting a walk-off single that won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Chourio’s run brought the victory as he crossed home plate after Bauers’ impressive hit into right field. Reflecting on the team’s journey, first baseman Rhys Hoskins expressed gratitude for being able to share this moment with teammates, noting, “We’ve been going at it together since the middle of February, so getting to cherish that moment with the guys and only the guys was something we talked about. Those are the types of things we’re going to remember beyond this year.”

Meanwhile, the Yankees faced off against the Seattle Mariners and emerged victorious with a narrow 2-1 win in ten innings. Veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo played a crucial role in the victory with a crucial go-ahead RBI double in the top of the tenth inning, helping the Yankees solidify at least a wild-card place in the playoffs. This win also put them five games ahead of the second-place Baltimore Orioles, marking their largest lead in the American League East division this season.

“Obviously, not getting in last year was difficult; it was a tough off-season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated in an interview following the game. He emphasized that this achievement is just the beginning of their journey, saying, “Look, we’ve got a long way to go. This is just the first step.”

Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes showcased exceptional performance, allowing just four hits and no runs in six innings. Rizzo stood out as the only player from the Yankees with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Star right fielder Juan Soto and designated hitter Aaron Judge contributed to the team effort, although Judge’s performance included three strikeouts.

For the Mariners, first baseman Justin Turner had a notable outing, recording two hits, including a home run, along with an RBI and a walk. Mariners starter Bryce Miller managed to hold the Yankees to two hits while allowing one run over six innings pitched.

The Brewers’ starter, Freddy Peralta, delivered a strong performance, allowing merely two hits and one run over five innings while striking out nine batters. Hoskins had a standout night as well, going 2 for 3 with a home run and a double against his former team.

Meanwhile, Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola allowed three hits and one run in seven innings of work, while third baseman Alec Bohm contributed with a solo homer in their defeat.

As the regular season approaches its final stretch, there are still ten playoff spots available in the twelve-team postseason field, with just 11 days remaining. The Yankees currently lead the American League with a record of 89-63. The Cleveland Guardians, sitting atop the American League Central standings, hold a six-game lead over the Kansas City Royals, followed closely by the Minnesota Twins.

The struggling Chicago White Sox eventuate one of the worst records in MLB history, languishing 52 games behind the Guardians for first place and 44 games back in the wild-card chase.

In the American League West, the Houston Astros maintain a five-game edge over the Mariners, while the Texas Rangers trail nine games behind in third place. Currently, the Orioles, Royals, and Twins occupy the three wild-card spots, but the Tigers are just half a game off the pace, with the Mariners three games back and the Boston Red Sox four games behind.

Over in the National League, the Phillies boast the best overall record at 91-61 and hold a seven-game lead over the New York Mets in the East. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the West with a 3.5-game cushion over the Padres, while the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Mets currently hold the three wild-card slots. The Braves are two games out of contention.

The upcoming postseason format will see the top two division winners in each league advance directly to the National League Division Series and American League Division Series. The remaining four teams will compete in a best-of-three series in the Wild Card round. The Wild Card round begins on October 1, with the following rounds commencing shortly afterward.

As the excitement builds, the Orioles will kick off Thursday’s schedule by hosting the San Francisco Giants in Baltimore.