Yankees secure AL's top record thanks to Guardians' loss

No champagne celebrations this time for the Yankees, who already toasted twice this month — once for securing a postseason spot and again for clinching the American League East title for the second time in three years.

Now, the Yankees (93-68) have locked in the best record in the American League, thanks to the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday night. This means New York will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

"It's crazy," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You go through 162 games, and I feel like we've been through a ton as a team this year. Ending up with the best record in the American League is something to be proud of, and these guys should be proud of. They've answered every challenge this year. It hasn't always been easy, but we're proud that we've put ourselves in this position to take our shot. We're excited about that."

This is the first time since 2012 that the Yankees have finished with the best record in the AL, marking the 43rd time in franchise history — the most by any team, with 18 more than the second-place Dodgers.

When asked if the Yankees are the team to beat heading into the playoffs, Giancarlo Stanton said, "We'd better be. That's the point."

After Sunday's regular-season finale against the Pirates at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' next game will be the AL Division Series opener at home on Oct. 5. The Yanks' record is third best in the Majors, trailing only the Dodgers (97-64) and the Phillies (94-67).

"We've got it, from top to bottom," Stanton said. "But it's not about what's on paper. It's about showing up. This won't mean much in about a week when it's time to get to work."

The Yankees' success this year comes after missing the postseason entirely in 2023, narrowly avoiding their first losing season in decades with an 82-80 record — a campaign that general manager Brian Cashman called a "disaster."

New York's playoff hopes rest heavily on the contributions of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Judge appears ready to claim his second AL Most Valuable Player Award after blasting a Major League-leading 58 home runs through Saturday. Soto's acquisition has bolstered the lineup with a consistent on-base threat.

"We missed it last year, which definitely disappointed everybody in this room," Judge said. "When you wear these pinstripes and play in this stadium, you're expected to win. We came up short [in 2023]. We want to make a statement that it isn't going to happen again."

As they await their ALDS opponent — either the Orioles or Royals — Boone announced that the Yankees will hold several days of workouts in the Bronx to keep the players sharp. Monday will be a complete off-day, followed by a Spring Training-style run-through on Tuesday, including pitchers' fielding practice. Wednesday and Thursday will feature live batting practice and simulated games, while Friday will see a traditional pre-series workout.

​"There are constantly more and more tools you can access to help you stay sharp. We'll do our best," Boone said. "We'll do our best to prioritize taking advantage of the rest that I'm sure a number of guys need at this time of the year, but also try to keep that mental edge and keep guys as sharp as we possibly can."