Anybody who seriously believes having home-field advantage in a best-of-seven October series isn’t a big deal probably still thinks the world is flat.
When it comes to the Yankees’ final 27 games, securing that advantage is the only remaining goal as they hold a whopping 11-game lead over the second-place Rays in the AL East. The Yankees’ magic number to clinch their first AL East title since 2012 is 17. Any combination of Yankees wins and Rays losses would give the Yankees the title.
Beginning Friday night at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees open a three-game series against the resilient A’s, it will be all about hosting up to four games in an ALCS should they win a best-of-five ALDS.