The New York Yankees clinched a playoff spot after their win on September 23, becoming the third American League team to do so this season. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays began their final series of the regular season.
Boston claimed the win in the series opener, and helped push New York closer to potentially winning the American League East. Obviously, the No. 1 seed is an ideal place to be for any team, but winning the division would also push the Yankees away from playing the Red Sox in the Wild Card round.
In his weekly appearance on Jomboy Media's "Talkin' Yanks" podcasts, the hosts asked Yankees manager Aaron Boone if he was rooting for Boston to give his team the best chance to win the AL East. Red Sox fans will love his response:
"I always say 'careful what you wish for,' you might be rooting for the wrong thing," Boone said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone hesitates when asked who he's rooting for in Red Sox-Blue Jays series
Boone says "be careful what you wish for" when watching Boston vs. Toronto this week pic.twitter.com/oprwBTX5IV
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 23, 2025
It isn't entirely clear what Boone meant by his comment, especially since winning the division would undeniably be the best possible outcome for the Yankees. But the Red Sox have slumped offensively since Roman Anthony fell injured on September 2, and while their playoff spot hasn't fallen into serious doubt, anything can happen before they clinch.
The Red Sox have had the Yankees' number nearly all season, aside from their final regular season series, which New York won. Boston won the season series, 9-4, and if it and New York happen to finish with the same record, the Sox have the tie breaker, meaning they would get home field advantage in the Wild Card round.
A Wild Card bout against the Red Sox could be disastrous for the Yankees, who haven't won a playoff series against their archrivals since 2003, thanks to Boone's own heroics. The 2021 Wild Card game didn't go over well for the Yankees, and Boone seems nervous that the upcoming Wild Card series could go the same way.
Facing the Blue Jays at any point in the postseason also may not go over well for the Yankees. Toronto also won the season series against New York, and facing either division rival (or both of them) between the first and second rounds of the postseason could spell an early end for the Yankees.
After their disastrous World Series appearance against the Dodgers last year, the Yankees are anxious for redemption on the postseason stage. If recent history is any indication, they may not get it against the Red Sox or the Blue Jays. But it would be all the more embarrassing for New York to lose to a heavily injured Boston team in its first postseason appearance in three years, and that's exactly what Red Sox fans are banking on.