Jazz Chisholm Jr. names Yankees team to beat amid surge

The New York Yankees kept their late-season surge alive with a thrilling 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday night.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole the show with a dominant performance, helping New York notch its second straight victory over their fiercest rival.

This win boosted the Yankees’ grip on the top American League wild-card spot. With only 14 games left, they’ve put themselves right in the thick of the postseason hunt. Maybe, just maybe, there’s even a shot at a miraculous AL East title run.

Yankees Tighten Grip on AL Wild Card

After this victory, the Yankees improved to 83-65 and now hold a 1½-game lead over their nearest wild-card challenger.

They trail the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays by just three games, so those faint hopes for the division and the league’s No. 1 seed are still flickering.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. Earlier in the season, New York let a sizeable division lead slip away.

But since a pivotal players-only meeting in late August, the team has flipped a switch—going 13-5 since Aug. 24 and posting a 7-4 record against tough postseason-caliber squads like the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, and Tigers.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Leads the Charge

Chisholm absolutely owned Saturday’s game, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

His blend of power and speed has changed the Yankees’ dynamic, and he’s now just one homer away from joining the exclusive 30/30 club—that’s 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season, in pinstripes no less.

If he pulls it off, Chisholm would become only the third Yankee ever to do it, and the first since Alfonso Soriano back in 2003.

After the game, Chisholm didn’t hold back. He called the Yankees “the team to beat” in the American League.

He credited the August meeting for the shift, saying the team decided to stop “playing down” to weaker opponents and attack every game with real intensity.

The Turnaround Story

This Yankees turnaround? It’s as much about attitude as performance.

The new approach has helped them find consistency late in the season, something that’s haunted them in recent years.

Manager Aaron Boone echoed Chisholm, stressing how crucial it is to win tight games against the league’s best.

Boone knows the road isn’t getting easier. The Yankees wrap up their three-game set against Boston on Sunday, facing Cy Young contender Garrett Crochet.

Pulling off that win would send a big message to the league, especially with October right around the corner.

Performance Against Tough Opposition

New York’s record against teams above .500 this season is a modest 45-43.

They’ve struggled more within the AL, sitting at 26-29 against winning clubs. Lately, though, they seem to be turning things around—a good sign with a tough playoff road likely ahead.

• Record since Aug. 24: 13-5
• Against postseason contenders since Aug. 24: 7-4
• Overall vs. teams above .500 in 2024: 45-43
• Overall vs. winning AL teams in 2024: 26-29

Outlook Heading into the Final Stretch

With just over a dozen games left, the Yankees’ playoff spot depends on keeping this momentum alive.

Every matchup counts. The AL field is packed tight, and seeding could make all the difference in their postseason path.

If New York keeps hitting—riding Chisholm’s historic run—and locks down late-game situations, they’ll be dangerous in any wild-card scenario.

And honestly, who’s to say they can’t make one last push for the AL East crown?

The Psychological Edge

The Yankees have found something that goes beyond stats. It’s a rediscovery of confidence and resolve, and you can feel it.

After a players-only meeting, the whole vibe changed. Chisholm said the team is now “approaching every game with a relentless mentality.”

That psychological edge—paired with real talent and sharper execution—could be what finally gets them deep into October.

Saturday’s win on the road wasn’t just another notch in the belt. It felt like a statement.

If this version of the Yankees keeps rolling, the rest of the American League might want to brace themselves. The Bronx Bombers suddenly look like one of the most dangerous teams in baseball.

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Here is the source article for this story: Jazz on Yankees’ surge: ‘We’re the team to beat’