Holding the best record in MLB at 50-22 on June 15, the Yankees looked like the juggernauts of old, dominating in both phases of the game.
However, things fell apart in the most colossal way for the month and a half to follow. From June 15 to July 27, a span of 33 games, the Yankees went 11-23. Only the Chicago White Sox were worse during that span.
But the Yankees seem to have found their groove, riding a five-game winning streak, including a surprising sweep of the MLB-best Philadelphia Phillies on the road.
Now, they enter the final two months of the season with a major advantage. It’s one they must take advantage of if they are going to enter the playoffs on a high note.
According to Tankathon’s strength of schedule rankings based on the “combined winning percentage for all those opponents,” the Yankees have the third-easiest strength of schedule (.477) in MLB for the remainder of the season. Only the Detroit Tigers (.475) and San Diego Padres (.475) have easier schedules.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles have the 10th-easiest schedule (.496) and the Cleveland Guardians have the fourth-most difficult schedule (.520).
The Yankees need to sweep their final series against the Orioles (Sept. 24-26) in order to hold the head-to-head record. Meanwhile, the Yankees simply need to win the final series against the Guardians (Aug. 20-22) in order to hold the head-to-head record.
Of course, the Yankees have to win those series against the lesser teams. Entering Friday, they are 20-12 against teams with a record below .500. Of the seven worst teams in baseball, the Yankees have a series against six of them remaining.
With two months of baseball to go, it will be crucial for the Yankees to take advantage of this opportunity.
