With the Guardians' victory over the White Sox to cap an epic American League Division Series comeback, there have been 43 winner-take-all Game 5s in Division Series history since the best-of-five series was added to the postseason docket in 1995, when MLB expanded to allow a Wild Card team from

NEW YORK – When Jazz Chisholm Jr. wasn’t included in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, the Yankees second baseman received a text message from manager Aaron Boone, reading in part, “You might be the most important person in

NEW YORK – There was no team meeting held, no rah-rah speech offered in the clubhouse as the first pitch approached on Wednesday night. Their backs against the wall, these Yankees understood the stakes: Play well for the next nine innings, or endure another long winter filled with questions. The

NEW YORK – Aaron Judge spent most of the past two weeks trying to override the Yankees’ caution about his right calf muscle, an ongoing battle that ended with the captain watching all five postseason games from the bench. With the offseason underway far too early for his taste, Judge

NEW YORK -- There was no consolation to be had on Wednesday night in the immediate aftermath of another gutting postseason defeat. The standard is the standard in the Bronx, and a Division Series loss falls short of the standard. But it’s hard to ignore that there was still a

NEW YORK -- The schedule for this year’s American League Division Series came with an extra off-day that, theoretically, meant teams would only need three starting pitchers. But the Rays swept the Yankees by using all five of theirs, brilliantly executing a pitching plan they devised during the downtime between

NEW YORK – Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: There was fan interference on an apparent home run ball at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. On a seemingly game-tying home run, hit by a Yankee, in a postseason game, against an American League East opponent. This time, though,

NEW YORK -- A year ago, Ryan Vilade was sleeping on a Walmart bed while playing for Triple-A Memphis -- the affiliate of the Cardinals -- still searching for a place to call home in the Major Leagues. On Wednesday, he was rounding the bases at Yankee Stadium after hitting

NEW YORK -- The swing of the season for these juggernaut Rays came off the bat of Victor Mesa Jr., a rookie outfielder acquired by the organization just in time for Spring Training. Mesa climbed into the box for his third at-bat against Yankees left-hander Max Fried in the sixth

NEW YORK -- Two weeks ago, Kevin Cash set the tone for the rowdy celebration raging in the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium with a message that made it clear the Rays weren’t done. They had accomplished their regular-season goals, getting back to the postseason and winning their first American

NEW YORK -- Two weeks ago, the Rays went wild in the visitors’ clubhouse at Yankee Stadium after clinching their first American League East championship in five years. That party started shortly after a win over the Yankees and carried late into the New York night. Could they have another

NEW YORK – It’s two games. After six months of being one of baseball's best teams, not to mention two Wild Card Series wins, the Yankees haven’t looked like themselves in the American League Division Series. For two games.

It took the Padres hanging on for dear life, but thanks to their NLDS Game 3 win over the Brewers to keep their season alive … we have one last day with four baseball games in 2026. That’s today. And there’s so much on the line. Between the two Game

NEW YORK -- Nick Martinez knows how rowdy things can get during a big game against a division rival at Yankee Stadium. Oh, sure, he started a couple meaningful games against the Yankees in the Bronx this season. But have you heard about the time the Rays’ American League Division

NEW YORK -- When Max Fried first toured Yankee Stadium as a free agent two winters ago, three words stood out: “Prepare, compete, win.” They were printed on a wall of the weight room, beyond the kettlebells and medicine balls, and they remain imprinted in the left-hander’s mind as a

There is more history with the Yankees than anybody else in baseball, and in sports. So at a time like this, Yankees fans look to October history that works for them, and not against them, as they look for their team to flip the script against a Rays team that

ST. PETERSBURG – After a baker’s dozen of showdowns throughout the regular season, the Yankees needed no refresher on the Rays’ approach ahead of this American League Division Series. Multiple times, they stressed how crucial it’d be to “take care of the ball” and “play clean.” Their worst fears were

ST. PETERSBURG -- As soon as the Rays clinched a postseason berth, manager Kevin Cash made their pitching plan clear: October might change when their starters actually pitch, but it wasn't going to change how many of them they planned to use. “We know the best version of our pitching

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays knew they were in for a challenge against American League Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler on Monday night at Tropicana Field. The Yankees’ ace has shown in a short time that he’s made for big moments, especially in unfriendly environments, and he is as

Ben Rice slugged another two home runs in Monday night’s 5-2 Yankees loss in ALDS Game 2 at Tropicana Field, providing all the offense for New York. His team may be looking to pull off another 2-0 comeback in a best-of-five series as the series shifts to Yankee Stadium, but

ST. PETERSBURG -- There’s no way to sugarcoat it: The Yankees put forth one of the sloppiest defensive performances in their franchise’s postseason history Monday night against the Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field. In what was effectively a must-win game, the Yankees

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays played a very Rays game, the Yankees played a somewhat un-Yankees game and the two teams boarded flights for New York on Monday night in very different frames of mind. Following a 5-2 Tampa Bay win in Game 2 of the ALDS, the Rays are

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a nightmare night for the prohibitive American League Cy Young favorite. And he barely did anything wrong. Cam Schlittler pounded the strike zone, and when he was out of the zone, it was mostly by design. His stuff was good. His velocity was right where

ST. PETERSBURG -- From the viewpoint of many fans, certainly those watching on TV, the ball seemed like it might never come down. For Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr., it was just part of the job.

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was hardly the environment that Cam Schlittler and the Yankees expected arriving at Tropicana Field for the first game of the American League Division Series.