Why the 2025 Yankees Weren’t Built to Win the ALDS

The New York Yankees’ 2024 postseason ended in disappointment, but honestly, for most longtime fans, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Their loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series (ALDS) just continued a season-long pattern: the Yankees crushed weaker teams but stumbled against the best.

The Blue Jays took the series 3-1, sealing things with a 5-2 win at Yankee Stadium. From April through October, New York just couldn’t step up when it mattered most, and it cost them big.

Blueprint for Defeat: A Season of Inconsistency

The Yankees’ regular season was basically a split personality. Against teams with winning records, they barely finished above .500.

But when they faced struggling teams, they turned into juggernauts. They went 49-24 against sub-.500 clubs—impressive on paper, but it didn’t hold up against tougher opponents.

Head-to-Head Struggles Against the Best

Toronto just seemed to have New York’s number all year. The Yankees went 5-8 against the Blue Jays in the regular season, and things only got worse in October.

In the ALDS, Toronto outscored them 34-19 over four games. Even home-field advantage couldn’t hide the Yankees’ pitching issues.

Toronto’s hitters kept finding ways to punish New York’s pitching, so the Yankees ended up playing catch-up most of the series. That’s just not a recipe for postseason success.

It wasn’t just Toronto, either. The Yankees went 4-9 against the Red Sox, 2-4 versus Detroit, and split 3-3 with Cleveland.

Each of those matchups made it pretty clear: New York just couldn’t get past teams that actually mattered in the playoff race.

The Lone Bright Spot

There was at least one team the Yankees handled—a playoff-caliber one, too: the Seattle Mariners. New York won five of six against Seattle, and for a brief moment, it looked like they could hang with the big boys.

But that was more of a fluke than a sign of what was to come. Fans hoping for a turnaround were left wishing for more.

Pitching Woes in October

Pitching depth is everything in the playoffs, right? The ALDS hammered that point home for the Yankees.

Toronto’s offense just overwhelmed New York’s pitching staff. Surrendering 34 runs in four games tells the whole story.

Whether it was the starters getting shelled or the bullpen leaking runs, the Blue Jays kept taking advantage. The Yankees never really found their footing on the mound.

Key Takeaways for the Yankees Moving Forward

For the Yankees to get back into real championship talks, they need to make some changes right away.

• Strengthen the pitching staff – They need better starters and relievers who can actually handle tough playoff lineups.
• Consistency against top-tier teams – Figuring out how to win more often against strong opponents is crucial. No way around it.
• Better situational hitting – The lineup has to find ways to get runs across, especially when they’re facing aces or playing from behind.

The Yankees’ 2024 season was a weird mix. They crushed weaker teams but just couldn’t hang with the best.

That kind of pattern isn’t going to get them a ring.

With the offseason here, the front office has a big job—rebuild not just the roster, but the attitude. October baseball demands more than just scraping by.

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Here is the source article for this story: The Yankees have been showing us all season why they weren’t built to…