Domingo Germán started for the Yankees, and was not encouraging, going 4 1/3rd innings and allowing 4 runs. The bullpen was scoreless after that, although Lucas Luetge allowed 3 hits in the 9th inning.
Nor was there much to talk about with the office. Aaron Judge, Gianarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres were all given the day off, spite of the long layoff to come. Jose Trevino got 2 hits, including a home run, but the rest of the team combined only got 3 hits. Rangers 4, Yankees 2. WP: Glenn Otto (7-10). SV: Matt Moore (5). LP: Germán (2-5).
The Yankees finish the season 99-63, Champions of the American League Eastern Division, by 7 games over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tampa Bay Rays, so long in the race, failed off near the end, and finished 13 games out. The Baltimore Orioles, so bad these last few years, finished with a winning record, 16 games back. In last place, 21 games back, with a losing record, are the Boston Red Sox.
In the immortal words of Bono, "Well, tonight, thank God it's them, instead of you!"
However, the Yankees finished seven games behind the Houston Astros for the best record in the American League. This locks the Yankees to the 2nd seed of the American League Playoffs.
Here are the Playoff matchups, with the higher seed having the home-field advantage:
Starting tomorrow: Wild Card Series
American League: 3. Cleveland Guardians vs. 6. Tampa Bay Rays; 4. Toronto Blue Jays vs. 5. Seattle Mariners.
National League: 3. St. Louis Cardinals vs. 6. Philadelphia Phillies; 4. New York Mets vs. 5. San Diego Padres.
Starting Tuesday, October 11: Division Series
American League: 1. Houston Astros vs. Jays-M's winner; 2. New York Yankees vs. Guardians-Rays winner.
National League: 1. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Mets-Padres winner; 2. Atlanta Braves vs. Cards-Phils winner.
The National League Championship Series starts on Tuesday, October 18. The American League Championship Series starts on Wednesday, October 19. The World Series starts on Friday, October 28.