The Boston Red Sox haven't made the playoffs consistently since they appeared in three straight years from 2016-18. All the while, the New York Yankees have maintained their strict playoff pedigree.
They haven't had great success when the calendar actually flips to October, though. New York hasn't advanced past the ALCS since it won the World Series in 2009. This year, the Yankees need to get past the gutsy Royals and their top-tier pitching in the ALDS.
Cole Ragans limited them to one run on Oct. 7 and the Yankees didn't break through again until the ninth inning. In the fourth frame, New York starter Carlos Rodón fell apart — an inning-opening blast by Salvador Perez must've shaken him. The Royals plated four runs, all charged to Rodón, and the Yankees never caught up. They lost, 4-2, and the series is tied, 1-1.
New York received mixed record and postseason predictions from experts at the beginning of the season. Some placed the Yankees last in the division, others predicted they'd win the World Series. They may be squandering their chance to keep Juan Soto for the rest of his career, and New York fans have acted like it on social media.
Aaron Judge has the worst strikeout rate in MLB postseason history pic.twitter.com/SrxIQOg7S7
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 8, 2024
Carlos Rodón and Aaron Judge's postseason performances have Yankees fans spiraling
New York's offense was mostly run by two players all year. Soto and Aaron Judge earned comparisons to legendary Yankees of the past with their complete offensive dominance in the regular season. Soto went 0-for-3 and Judge 1-for-3 against Kansas City's pitching. Soto clocked three hits in the Yanks' Game 1 win, but Judge didn't have the same luck.
The towering outfielder is one for his last 22 in the postseason. He carries the worst playoff strikeout rate of all time for any hitter with over 200 plate appearances, just ahead of longtime Astro, Martin Maldonado.
On Oct. 9, the Yankees will head to Kansas City to continue the series at Kauffman Stadium, where the Royals tend to play better. They slashed .236/.292/.388 on the road during the regular season and .260/.322/.420 at home. Kansas City has struck out over 100 fewer times at home than on the road.
Bobby Witt Jr. did not offensively contribute during the first two ALDS games in New York, but that will change when the series moves to Kauffman Stadium. The MVP candidate's home-road splits are particularly jarring — he slashed .284/.340/.505 with a .845 OPS on the road and .382/.441/.676 with a staggering 1.117 OPS at home during the regular season.
If the Yankees don't get their offense together quickly, they'll be expedited before they realize their World Series dreams. And, despite their favorite team missing the playoffs for the third straight year, Red Sox fans will get a laugh out of it.