Surging Yankees Eyeing Record 28th World Series Title

The New York Yankees celebrate after a win over the Kansas City Royals after Game Four of the Division Series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 10, 2024. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The New York Yankees have regained their swagger.

After a season in which they sometimes struggled, the Yankees finished strong with the best record in the American League (AL) at 94–68. New York then dispatched the Kansas City Royals three games to one in an AL Division Series on Oct. 10.

Now, the Yankees are aiming for a record 28th World Series title. However, the Bronx Bombers need to create more success after recent playoff failures.

New York advanced to the AL Championship Series for the fifth time since 2012. However, they have not been to the World Series since 2009, when they also won their last title.

The Yankees, however, have overcome adversity this season and are battle-tested for the playoffs.

In late July, the Yankees lost 20 of their 32 games and were in second place behind the Baltimore Orioles, who were dealing with their own struggles. New York recovered and outlasted Baltimore over the final two months of the season to win the AL East for the second time in three years.

The Yankees scored 14 runs in the four games against the Royals, and they managed clutch hits. The pitching was superb. In the deciding game against the Royals, Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Giancarlo Stanton each drove in runs in the 3–1 victory.

“We’re here to win,” Stanton said at the postgame press conference following Game 3 against the Royals. “No one wants to be on the losing side of this. I can imagine how K.C. feels right now. No one wants to feel that way, and we have an opportunity to keep it rolling. We need to take care of business.”

Outfielder Aaron Judge is a 2024 MVP candidate after batting .322 and leading the league with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs. Judge has struggled this postseason, going 2-for-13 (.154 average) without a homer or RBI over the four games with the Royals.

However, Judge is one of the game’s best hitters, and if he can get rolling, the Yankees will be a tough team to beat throughout the rest of the postseason. Judge is not concerned about his stats; his focus is on winning the championship.

“Since I’ve been here with the Yankees, we haven’t secured a pennant,” Judge said after Game 4 against Kansas City. “The group that we have, just excited for this opportunity. It’s going to be something special.”

Judge and Soto are nominees for the Hank Aaron Award, which goes to the best offensive player in each league during the regular season.

The Yankees’ pitching staff is led by reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, who was activated off the 60-day injured list in June after dealing with nerve inflammation in his right elbow.

Cole finished the season at 8–5 with a 3.41 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 29 walks over 17 starts. Cole was masterful in the deciding Game 4 against the Royals, allowing one run and scattering six hits with four strikeouts and no walks over seven innings.

Game 1 of the ALCS is slated for Monday, Oct. 14, so Cole might not be available on four days rest. Carlos Rodon, who took the loss in Game 2 after allowing four runs and seven hits over 3.2 innings, could get the start. Manager Aaron Boone could opt for Clark Schmidt, who started Game 3 against Kansas City. That announcement likely won’t come until the game gets closer.

The Yankees will play the winner of the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, who play a deciding Game 5 on Saturday night.