The good news for the Yankees, in regards to the expanded playoff bracket, is that without it, their season would already be over. In losing four out of their last five contests, the Yankees would have finished two games behind the Indians for the second Wild Card spot.
The bad news, however, is that in this version of the playoffs, by earning the fifth seed the Yankees will play their entire Wild Card series against the Indians in Cleveland. The Yankees finished the season 22-9 at home, but just 11-18 away from Yankee Stadium.