Game 299 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees

October 1 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network

It's been an absolutely ridiculous six months for the New York Yankees. The team has gone from low expectations in March to possibly being the best team in the American League in July to looking like an old, tired team that may limp into the Wild Card game OR limp into their living rooms to watch the Wild Card game on television to clinching a spot in that game on the fourth-to-last day of the regular season.

Thursday's 4-1 win behind a gutsy performance from the rejuvenated CC Sabathia (5 IP, 1 ER), stellar relief work from Adam Warren (three one-hit innings) & a trio of solo home runs, put New York in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

The formula for this postseason-securing victory was the formula for a lot of Yankee wins: good enough starting pitching, excellent work from the bullpen and hitting the ball out of the park.

So, they qualified for the postseason (one more win or a Houston loss this weekend and NY will host Tuesday's play-in game), but things are never easy for the 2015 Yankees.


The 2015 Yankees, a timeline

Spring Training: "the Yankees will be lucky to finish .500."

Mid-April (3-6 start): "see?!"

Win 13 of 16, climb into first place: "the Yankees are over-achieving!"

Season-high seven-game AL East lead in late-July: "the Yankees might be the AL favorites!"

Lose entire lead in 13 days to surging Toronto: "the Yankees stink!"

Back in first: "are the Yankees good enough to stay in first and hold off Toronto?"

Embarrassed by the Houston Astros in late-August, fall back into second place for remainder of season: "no!"

Late night, September 30, lose third straight to Boston: "are the Yankees even going to make the playoffs?!"

Late night, October 1: "looks like it!"

Mid-morning, October 2: "the Yankees will be lucky to even win the Wild Card game."