Yankees are AL East champions: When do the MLB playoffs start?

NEW YORK – The AL East clinching party is over at Yankee Stadium, and now it’s all about October.

“Off what we came off last year, we had a lot to prove,’’ manager Aaron Boone said late Thursday night, after the Yankees secured their third division title under Boone with a 10-1 win against the playoff-bound Baltimore Orioles.

Last year’s Yankees club missed the postseason tournament, and this year’s team will be the favorites to advance to the World Series out of the AL field.

“We’ve been through a lot already as a team this year, so I like to think we’re battle tested for what’s ahead,’’ said Boone, with a few more things to settle before the AL Division Series begins on Oct. 5 at Yankee Stadium.

Clinching the AL's best record

With three games left, the Yankees’ magic number is two, to secure the AL’s best record over the Cleveland Guardians, with the Yanks holding the tiebreaker advantage.

"We’d love to get it. That said, I’m going to make sure I give guys a day here,'' said Boone. "I feel like we’ve got to do it. But we’ll be playing to win.''

Having the league’s best record would give the Yanks home field advantage through the AL playoffs, and that means hosting Games 6 and 7 – if necessary – in an AL Championship Series.

And if you don’t think that’s a big deal, well the last time the Yanks won a pennant – 2009 – was also the last time they hosted a Game 6 in an ALCS.

Three previous times (2010, 2017, 2019), the Yanks lost either ALCS Game 6 or 7 on the road, ending their season.

While the Yankees (93-66) face the last place NL Central Pittsburgh Pirates at home this weekend, the Guardians (92-67) host the Houston Astros (86-73), who’ve already clinched the AL West.

And if you still think the Yanks have an easier route, consider that Pittsburgh is scheduled to start rookie sensation Paul Skenes vs. Luis Gil on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

Who’s in left field?

According to Boone, the Yankees still aren’t sure if Alex Verdugo or Jasson Dominguez is the regular choice here, or a combination.

And that’s something for a division-winning team, with postseason starting in a week.

“I’m just trying to let things declare themselves in this final week,’’ said Boone, suggesting this could be a fluid situation into October. “Obviously, we’ll have tough decisions to make.’’

At its base level, there’s concern over Dominguez’s left field defense. Could the switch-hitting rookie’s offensive potential turn Verdugo into mostly a late inning, left field replacement?

“(We) feel like both guys bring a lot to the table, so it’s a tough call, frankly, night in and night out,’’ said Boone, adding that “both guys can help us win games in whatever role that may be.’’

During Thursday night's clincher, Dominguez (0-for-2, walk, 2 strikeouts) was replaced defensively by Verdugo, who homered in the eighth inning - just his fourth homer since June 14.

Which pitchers will the Yankees take into the ALDS?

The last time they were in the best-of-five Division Series, in 2022, the Yanks carried 12 pitchers.

Boone said such conversations wouldn’t take place until they clinched the division, but it’s fair to assume they’ll take 12 pitchers again, hoping one of them is Jake Cousins.

A right-hander with the standout slider, Cousins emerged as a high-leverage factor in the Yankees’ bullpen, but he’s currently sidelined with a pectoral strain.

It’s possible he’s ready for Friday’s ALDS opener. Either way, the Yanks must still decide of Marcus Stroman has a role, assuming Clarke Schmidt (or Luis Gil) is the Game 3 starter.

Cody Poteet might be better equipped to handle a long relief role, and relievers Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Mayza and Scott Effross could be on the outside.

On the rotation side, the Yankees are scheduled to start Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt this weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Stadium.

After ace Gerrit Cole and Rodon in an ALDS best-of-five rotation, the Yanks might only need just one more starter in the ALDS, with an off day between Games 1 and 2, and a travel date after Games 2 and 4.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees are AL East champions: When do the MLB playoffs start?