The Yankees are a good way toward proving that their September/October version is their reality, not the June/July edition.

Midseason was challenging as the Red Sox won five out of six games against the Yankees, reviving their playoff hopes after a period of underperformance. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays also clinched five victories out of six games, surpassing the Yankees to secure the top spot in the AL East. This pivotal achievement almost guaranteed their success in a potential tiebreaker for the division title.

In September, the Yankees claimed victory in two out of three games against the Red Sox, creating sufficient distance to ensure that if they faced each other in a wild-card series, it would be hosted in The Bronx. Indeed, that’s how it turned out, with the Yankees winning the three-game series.

The Yankees also triumphed in two of three games against the Blue Jays in September, eventually catching up to Toronto, resulting in both teams ending the season with 94 wins. As the tiebreaker favored the Blue Jays, the first two games of the division series, starting on Saturday, will take place at Rogers Centre. This series presents the Yankees with an opportunity to resolve past contests from June and July and prove themselves within the AL East.