At 84-62, the New York Yankees have a 1 1/2-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East with only 16 games to play. Those two teams will play a three-game series at Yankee Stadium from Sept. 24-26, so the division race is far from over, but the Yankees are in good position at the moment. Take care of business and the division is theirs.
The Yankees are in first place because of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, first and foremost. Judge (217 OPS+) and Soto (179 OPS+) have been the two best hitters in baseball this season. When you start your lineup with those two, you’re in great shape. It’s also helped that young Luis Gil and (when healthy) Clarke Schmidt have stabilized the rotation.
Another reason the Yankees are in first place? Austin Wells. The rookie backstop has emerged as a bona …