Yankees Manager Joe Girardi is a man who seeks out certainty. He does not like hypotheticals, waving away what-ifs as though they were a child with too many questions.
But on Wednesday, an unexpected possibility loomed, one so tantalizing that even Girardi could not help but consider it: a chance to catch the Boston Red Sox at the top of the American League East.
After seemingly cementing the division title earlier this month, the Red Sox lost consecutive games at home to Toronto, allowing the Yankees to creep within three games with just five to play entering Wednesday.