The New York Yankees’ chase to make the playoffs for a fifth straight year is coming down to the wire. With the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays all battling for the American League’s two wild-card spots, the odds suggest that it’ll be Toronto on the outside of the final postseason picture.
The Yankees have -140 odds of making the 2021 MLB playoffs, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Trailing New York by a game in the standings, Toronto is given -145 odds to miss the playoffs.
Boston is a -2500 favorite to make the postseason. The Red Sox are two games ahead of the Yankees heading into their weekend series at Fenway Park.
FanGraphs gives Boston a 97.6% chance of earning a playoff berth. The Yankees have a 55.7% chance of getting into the postseason. The Blue Jays are at 41.1%.
Toronto missed a chance to tie New York in the standings Thursday. The Blue Jays were defeated by the Minnesota Twins 7-2.
New York has the most difficult remaining schedule of the AL wild-card contenders. The Yankees are getting healthier as October approaches, activating pitchers Domingo German and Luis Severino from the injured list this week.
The Blue Jays reached the wild-card round of the expanded 2020 MLB playoffs. Toronto hasn’t won a postseason game since it reached the 2016 ALCS.
The Blue Jays will host the Yankees in a pivotal three-game series next week. The MLB's regular season concludes on Oct. 2.
Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 16, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 13-2. Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
