The Yankees secured a walk-off hit to win, marking the 60th time in franchise history they have advanced to the playoffs; they may face their longtime rivals, the Red Sox, in the first round.

The New York Yankees advanced to the 2025 postseason, having reached the playoffs eight times in the last nine years, with 2023 being the only exception. Facing the American League’s bottom-ranked White Sox at home, the Yankees encountered a tough battle, with the White Sox pitching staff holding strong until the bottom of the ninth. José Caballero’s walk-off hit secured a 3-2 win and the team’s 60th playoff appearance.

Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil allowed two runs over six innings. He was the American League Rookie of the Year last season but missed much of this year due to injury. Since returning in August, his ERA of 3.29 has improved compared to last year. Team leader Aaron Judge remains at 49 home runs and drew three walks in this game, two of which were intentional.

The race in the American League East is still ongoing. On the same day, the Blue Jays lost to the Red Sox, leaving the Yankees (89 wins) just one game behind the division-leading Blue Jays (90 wins). Both teams have better records than those in the Central and West divisions, so winning the AL East title would secure the top seed in the league, granting a direct berth to the Division Series and bypassing the Wild Card round. With five regular-season games left, if the Yankees fall into a Wild Card spot, they will likely face their rivals, the Red Sox, in the first round.

The Yankees hold the record for the most playoff appearances in Major League Baseball (60 times), but it has been a long time since they last won the championship, with their most recent title coming in 2009. They returned to the World Series last year but were ultimately defeated by the Dodgers.