The Yankees largely failed in their division-rival showdown this weekend, denting their hopes of rising as a contender in the AL East and a realistic contender in the playoffs.
You’re up, Mets.
Beginning today is a three-game face-off with the Phillies at Citi Field in which the Mets can begin a charge up the NL East — or learn they should lower their gaze and focus on the Reds, who are their main wild-card competition.
This is the same kind of could-be-season-defining test the Yankees stared into and blinked this weekend, losing three of four in The Bronx to the second-place Red Sox and falling 5 ½ games back of the Blue Jays while sitting in the second wild-card spot. Aaron Boone’s bunch is 17-22 in their division, 34-34 against teams over .500 and an incredible 7-19 against the AL’s four best teams in the Tigers, Blue Jays, Astros and Red Sox. There are real questions about the Yankees that extend past their ability to crack into a bloated playoff field. If they cannot consistently beat good teams — and if matchups with their blood rivals leave them bleeding — where is the hope that they can make October meaningful?
