Yankees clinch playoff spot after missing out a year ago

A year ago, the New York Yankees were knocked out of playoff contention with a week to go in the regular season, ending a string of six straight postseason appearances.

Remembering what that was like made wrapping up a playoff berth with more than a week left this time feel that much better.

"A lot of things have come together. Probably better health overall. Definitely an added focus for guys that were coming off tough years, and simply put, we're better," New York manager Aaron Boone said. "We weren't a great team last year, and this team has a chance to do something special."

After spending last year sitting at home when the postseason arrived, the Yankees earned their place in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings Wednesday night.

Nestor Cortes, who pitched six shutout innings, said this Yankees team is using the sting of last season as motivation heading into October.

"Last year we were out of the playoffs. Sour feeling for us," Cortes said as New York players drenched each other in beer and bubbly during a jubilant clubhouse celebration. "Coming into spring training, we had one goal, and that's to make the playoffs, and we're here. Obviously, the ultimate goal for every team is to be in the World Series and win the World Series. But as of right now, we're going to enjoy this moment."

New York has the best record in the American League at 89-63 and leads second-place  Baltimore by five games in the American League East with 10 to play. The latest victory ensured the Yankees of at least a wild card.

It's the 59th postseason appearance for the Yankees -- the most in MLB history -- but New York is still trying to end a World Series drought that dates to 2009, when the franchise celebrated its 27th title.

Last year, the Yankees were hampered by an injury-riddled roster that was eliminated from playoff contention on Sept. 24. Before that, the Yankees hadn't missed the postseason since 2016, when Aaron Judge had just 27 games of major league experience.

Now they are headed back to the playoffs with Judge the MVP favorite in the American League, another hitting star in Juan Soto and a starting pitching staff that might have enough depth to carry the Yankees on a deep playoff run.

"[It'll] definitely be exciting, especially after the season we had last year missing out on the postseason," Judge said. "That's what we came into the season to do, get into the postseason and give ourselves an opportunity to go out there and win a World Series. That'll be step one, but we've got to get there first."

The task over the final stretch is making sure that return to the playoffs includes going in as champions of the AL East. The recent slump by the Orioles has opened a gap in the division race and built perhaps enough of a cushion to take some of the drama away from next week's three-game series between the teams in the Bronx.

But it only remains stress-free as long as the Yankees don't stumble over the next few days. After closing out the series in Seattle on Thursday, the Yankees finish their final trip with three games in  Oakland.

They hope it's the last time they have to be away from home for a while.

"Our goal is to win the division. That's what we want to do," Soto said. "We're going to focus on that and try to finish the season strong."

Soto is a big reason the Yankees are back in the playoffs and might end up with home-field advantage in the American League. While Judge is rightfully the favorite to win his second MVP in the past three seasons with 53 homers and 136 RBIs, the contributions from Soto have been equally important.

Soto reached the 40-homer mark for the first time in Tuesday's series opener against the Mariners. It was also the 200th long ball of his career, at just age 25 and heading into an offseason when he will be the top free agent. The duo will probably determine just how deep this Yankees playoff run goes.

"Getting a front-row seat this year, all year, watching him, watching him go about it, watching him day in and day out, just a great hitter," Boone said.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.