When the Yankees take the field tonight, they’ll do so whilst owning the best record in Major League Baseball– something they’ve had for a while now–along with a two game lead over Tampa Bay for first place in the quarrelsome A.L. East. Their first 23 games out of the All Star break may just challenge that.
Thirteen games of the next twenty-three are against division foes–six against the Rays (three in NY, three in TB), three against Toronto, and four against Boston (all of those are at home). Luckily between the first and second Rays series, there is a relatively easy stretch in which the Yankees play host to the Royals for four games before flying out to Cleveland for a four game series.
This opening series against Tampa is an important one, but no matter what happens, the Yankees will be in good position. If they sweep the series, they’ll end up five games on top of the Rays as we pace through July. If they win two of three, they’ll be three games up–not as comfortable as five, but still solid. And though a series loss would not be great, it would still have the Yankees in a tie with Tampa. A sweep and they’re just one game out with enough time to make up for it.
As always, it will be crucial for the Yankees to handle business against KC and Cleveland in the middle of this division gauntlet. That could give the Yankees a valuable cushion for when they fly to Tampa, then home for the Blue Jays and Red Sox.
Where the Yankees sit after August ends will be crucial. Their September/October schedule could be potentially brutal. Every game but three in Texas against the Rangers is against a division opponent: six against the O’s (three home, three away), seven against Tampa (four home, three away), six against Boston (three home, three away), and three against Toronto over the border. From September 20th to October 3rd, the Yankees will be put through the proverbial wringer and that thirteen day period will determine the season’s races.
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3 Responses to Looking into the Second Half Schedule
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TIQ IQ
You’re right – 9/10 – 10/3 is going to be absolutely brutal. 3 vs. Tex, 7 v. Tampa and 6 vs. Boston? Blergh.
Hopefully Boston will be eliminated from the playoffs by then.
Tampa and Boston don’t have it too easy either. They have to play us. I saw Boston last night. They were pitiful. Kevin Cash as their catcher, really?
The Sox schedule is terrible…they start the second half with 4 at home and finish with 3 at home so they are on the road a lot in between. They are traditionally a poor road team.