The Yankees can clinch the AL East on Tuesday against the Orioles.
If they can grab the division title, they’ll turn their focus toward securing home-field advantage.
Entering Tuesday’s games, the Yankees are two games up on Cleveland for the AL lead but they hold the important tiebreaker after winning the season series.
The Yankees have two series remaining, beginning with a three-game set against struggling Baltimore and then ending the season with three games against the Pirates.
With the Yankees’ magic number at one to clinch the AL East this week, let’s look ahead to the preliminary Yankees’ playoff schedule.
Oct. 5: Wild-card winner at No. 1 or 2 New York Yankees (home)
Oct. 7: Wild-card winner at No. 1 or 2 New York Yankees (home)
Oct. 9: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 or 2 New York Yankees (away)
Oct. 10: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 or 2 New York Yankees (away)*
Oct. 12: Wild-card winner at No. 1 or 2 New York Yankees (home)*
*If necessary
If the Yankees win their ALDS matchup, they will advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2022.
Oct. 14: AL lower seed at AL higher seed
Oct. 15: AL lower seed at AL higher seed
Oct. 17: AL higher seed at AL lower seed
Oct. 18: AL higher seed at AL lower seed
Oct. 19: AL higher seed at AL lower seed*
Oct. 21: AL lower seed at AL higher seed*
Oct. 22: AL lower seed at AL higher seed*
*If necessary
If successful in the ALCS, the Yankees would advance to their 41st World Series, beginning in late October.
The team with the best record will have home-field advantage.
The Yankees trail the Dodgers by one game and the Phillies by 1/2 game entering Tuesday.
Oct. 25: League champ #2 at league champ #1
Oct 26: League champ #2 at league champ #1
Oct. 28: League champ #1 at league champ #2
Oct. 29: League champ #1 at league champ #2
Oct. 30: League champ #1 at league champ #2*
Nov.1: League champ #2 at league champ #1*
Nov. 2: League champ #2 at league champ #1*
*If necessary
There’s still a long way to go before envisioning the Yankees’ season continuing into early November, but that would be the complete schedule if they go on another deep run.