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

NEW YORK -- There will be no bottles popped this time, not after the Yankees celebrated twice already this month, toasting their entry into the postseason and having secured the American League East title for the second time in three seasons.

But the Yankees (93-68) have now clinched the best record in the AL, a development secured by the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday evening. It ensures that New York will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

"It's crazy," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You go through 162 games; I feel like we've been through a ton as a team this year. To end up with the best record in the American League, I think it's 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 of the fact that we've put ourselves in this position to take our shot. We're excited about that."

This marks the first time since 2012 that the Yankees have recorded the AL's best record, and the 43rd time in their history (most by any team in its league --18 more times than the second-place Dodgers).

Asked recently if the Yankees are the team to beat heading into the playoffs, Giancarlo Stanton replied: "We'd better be. That's the point."

After Sunday's regular-season finale against the Pirates at Yankee Stadium, New York's next game will come in the AL Division Series opener at home on Oct. 5.

The Yanks' record is the 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. "It's not about what's on paper, though. It's about coming up, showing up. This won't mean much in about a week when it's time to get to work."

That performance came after the Yankees missed the postseason all together in 2023, narrowly avoiding the club's first losing season in decades by squeaking out an 82-80 record in a campaign that general manager Brian Cashman referred to as a "disaster."

New York's postseason hopes, of course, ride heavily on the shoulders of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

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Judge appears primed for his second AL Most Valuable Player Award, having belted a Major League-leading 58 homers through Saturday's action, while Soto's acquisition bolstered the lineup with a reliable 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 the Yankees await the identity of their ALDS opponent -- they'll face either the Orioles or Royals -- Boone said they will hold several days of workouts in the Bronx to keep players active.

Monday will be a complete off-day, with Tuesday hosting a Spring Training-style run-through that will include pitchers' fielding practice. Wednesday and Thursday will include live batting practice and simulated action, and Friday will see the Yanks go through a traditional pre-series workout.

"There are constantly more and more tools that 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 at this time of the year will benefit from, but also trying to make sure we keep that mental edge and keep guys as sharp as we possibly can."