New York Yankees Joel Sherman The playoff issues Yankees hope to iron out — including with possible gamble — over final five games By Joel Sherman Published Sep. 23, 2026, 8:02 p.m. ET New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. catches a pop out by Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz during the fifth inning of game two of a split doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post Spring Training II began Wednesday for the Yankees.
They had five meaningless games to try to address their biggest concerns going into a postseason in which:
The Yankees learned — and earned — their fate Tuesday when a doubleheader split against the Rays guaranteed Tampa Bay the AL East title and the league’s No. 1 seed while the Yankees now know they will host the best-of-three wild-card series next week, almost certainly against the Red Sox.
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Still, for a team with the AL’s second-best record, the Yankees are too unsettled on who will be available and when, and who is filling what roles. They know they will have at least 14 position players for the wild-card round, are considering 15 and may even take 16.
