By Marvin A Azrak
As Yogi Berra once said, “It Ain’t over until it’s over”, and this Yankees season is certainly not over. That wasn’t a sure thing on July 4th, after a 10-5 loss to the Mets dropping the Bombers to an even 41-41 record. It got even more deflating throughout the last few weeks when the Yankees lost stars such as Gerrit Cole, Domingo Germán, Jordan Montgomery, Aroldis Chapman, trade-deadline acquisition Anthony Rizzo, Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sánchez all hit the IL do you injury or COVID reasons. But since that loss in early July, the Yankees have reeled off an improbable 24-11 stretch that continued over the weekend, when the Yankees rebounded tom a crushing loss in the “Field of Dreams game”, and took two of three from the first-place Chicago White Sox. It has put the team in a position where they’re suddenly 65-52, and with 45 games remaining are in the thick of the Wild Card and AL East chase. They’re also about to welcome their ace in Gerrit Cole back to the lineup this evening when they battle the Los Angeles Angles in the Bronx before Boston comes to town on Tuesday for a doubleheader that begins a three-game series with playoff implications. But for now, let’s take a look at all the teams in the AL playoff hunt, and try to make our own predictions/ projections for how things will turn out.
AL EAST:
As of Monday morning (8/16), the Tampa Bay Rays(71-47) currently lead the division
, with the Boston Red Sox(69-51) Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays(63-54)not far behind.
RAYS SCHEDULE/ SERIES PREDICTIONS:
Vs Baltimore Orioles(38-78) 3-1
Vs Chicago White Sox(68-50) 2-1
@Philadelphia Phillies(61-57) 1-1
@Orioles 2-1
Vs Red Sox 2-2
Vs Minnesota Twins(52-66) 3-0
@Red Sox 1-2
@Detroit Tigers 2-1
@Blue Jays 2-1
Vs Tigers 4-0
Vs Blue Jays 2-1
Vs Miami Marlins 3-0
@Houston Astros 2-1
@Yankees 0-3
TOTAL RECORD: 27-17
FINAL RECORD: 98-64
WHY?
This is a mostly light schedule, with some “Show me” series mixed in between. Injuries don’t seem to phase this team who have set a record with 15 pitchers on the IL this season, so Tampa Bay should be able to take home the American League Eastern Division for a second straight season if they play their cards right.
AL WILD CARD:
Here is where it gets very interesting in the Junior Circuit.
Currently, the Oakland Athletics (68-50) have the first WildCard spot, with the Red Sox occupying the second one. However, the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners(63-56) are giving them a run for their money. Let’s dive into each team’s schedule, and try to predict how each team will finish the season.
A’s:
@ Chicago White Sox 2-2
Vs San Francisco Giants 2-1
Vs Seattle Mariners 1-1
Vs Yankees 2-2
@ Detroit Tigers 2-1
@Blue Jays 2-1
Vs White Sox 1-2
Vs Texas Rangers 3-0
@Kansas City Royals 3-0
@ LA Angels 2-1
Vs Mariners 3-1
Vs Houston Astros 1-2
@Mariners 2-1
@Astros 2-1
TOTAL RECORD: 30-14
FINAL RECORD: 98-64
WHY?
This is a very tough schedule with seven games against the White Sox, a huge series against the Yankees, two tilts with Houston, and nine games against the Mariners that can shape the Wildcard race. However, I’m of the belief the A’s will still find a way to maintain their consistent play, and turn it into a playoff berth as they have in recent seasons down the stretch.
RED SOX:
@Yankees 1-2
Vs Texas Rangers 3-0
Vs Minnesota Twins 2-1
@Cleveland Indians 2-1
@Rays 2-2
Vs Indians 2-1
Vs Rays 2-1
@White Sox 2-1
@Seattle Mariners 2-1
Vs Baltimore Orioles 3-0
Vs Mets 1-1
Vs Yankees 1-2
@Orioles 2-1
@ Washington Nationals 3-0
TOTAL RECORD: 28-14
FINAL RECORD: 97-65
YANKEES:
Vs Los Angeles Angels 1-0
Vs Red Sox 2-1
vs Minnesota Twins 4-0
vs Atlanta Braves 1-1
@ Oakland Athletics 2-2
@ Angels 2-1
Vs Baltimore Orioles 2-1
Vs Toronto Blue Jays 3-1
@ New York Mets 2-1
@ Orioles 2-1
Vs Cleveland Indians 2-1
Vs Texas Rangers 3-0
@ Red Sox 2-1
@ Blue Jays 2-1
Vs Rays 3-0
TOTAL RECORD: 32-15
FINAL RECORD: 97-65
WHY?
As the season rolls on, the Yankees will be getting their “A” team back in guys like Luis Severino, Corey Kluber, among many, many others. Looking at their schedule, it’s going to be a grind-fest, but the Yankees not only have the talent to make the postseason yet again. Then we will go from there as far as the “Chase for 28” is concerned.
TO RECAP:
* We are projecting the Tampa Bay Rays to win the AL East.
* We’re projecting the Oakland A’s to wind up with the first AL Wildcard spot.
* The Yankees and Red Sox will finish tied at 97-65, and everyone will have flashbacks to 1978, with the two teams facing off in a game “163” at Fenway Park with their seasons on the line. That was Known as the “Bucky Dent game”, as his three-run bomb lifted the Yankees past the Red Sox 5-4, en route to the AL East crown and later the World Series title.
Marvin Azrak is a member of the Jewish Voice student journalists initiative program. He specializes in sports writing
