The Yankees’ October hopes have become the subject of fierce debate, specifically after ESPN’s Eduardo Pérez laid out the cold reality on Baseball Isn’t Boring. Despite the team’s massive $3 billion valuation and roster loaded with stars, the Yankees’ path to the World Series is fragile. As Pérez stressed, the Yankees’ shot at glory relies less on Aaron Boone’s management and more on whether four vital stars can all align perfectly.

“Do they have a chance? I think everybody has a chance,” Pérez admitted. However, the chance for the Yankees is not automatic. For the team to enter October, Pérez listed the non-negotiables: Aaron Judge needs to be in right field, Carlos Rodón and Max Fried need to perform like true aces, and Devin Williams has to be a bullpen lock. Without all four in sync, the Yankees’ formula collapses. And that dependency on individual performance is precisely why Aaron Boone is already being ruled out of Manager of the Year consideration.

However, the real threat is not coming from payroll giants like the Mets. It is the Astros, guided by Joe Espada, who Pérez says deserves to be the Manager of the Year if the team fends off Seattle. “If the Houston Astros are able to hold off the Seattle Mariners, Joe Espada is manager of the year in the American [League],” Pérez declared. Such a verdict carries weight, considering what the Astros have endured this season.

The Astros have faced a gauntlet: no Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, a rookie right fielder thrown into the fire and the loss of Josh Hader for the last month and a half. Yet, under Espada, the Astros have remained steady. As Pérez explained, “You did it all year long without Albert… now you don’t have Josh [Hader]… If they’re able to hold off, that is to me the manager of the year.” Unlike Aaron Boone, Espada’s instance is not built on star reliance but on extracting maximum value from a depleted roster.

Such a distinctiveness in thought process sets the stage for October: the Yankees have the payroll, the Astros have the resilience. While Aaron Boone’s Yankees need to see Judge, Rodón, Fried, and Williams firing at the same time—a tall order in a long season—Espada has already proven he can keep a shorthanded roster competitive. Add in the stars of Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, who Pérez said are “good enough to get you through,” and the Astros suddenly look like the true $3B World Series threat standing in the Yankees’ way.

However, while the Astros loom as the largest roadblock in October, the Yankees’ quick challenge lies in finding the internal spark that could save their season.

Spencer Jones and Brendan Beck are tipped as vital September call-ups to rescue the Yankees’ playoff push

The Yankees’ season could ultimately hinge on vital roster moves, and Spencer Jones looks like the obvious first step. The 24-year-old outfielder has crushed Triple-A pitching, flashing elite power and speed that could add instant firepower to the Yankees’ sluggish offense. With Aaron Judge carrying much of the load, Jones’ availability could provide a vital lineup safeguard while providing the kind of home run threat tailor-made for Yankee Stadium. Despite the star’s strikeout issues, his raw tools scream MLB readiness, and September call-ups could be the perfect stage for Jones to showcase his effect.

On the pitching side, Brendan Beck provides the other September necessity. Injuries to Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Ryan Yarbrough have left the team scrambling for consistency in the rotation, and Beck has earned his shot with powerful outcomes in Double and Triple-A. While not overpowering, the star’s four-pitch mix and capability to miss bats could stabilize the back end of the staff. If Brendan Beck profiles better as a long-period bullpen piece, Beck provides valuable depth at a time when the Yankees desperately need fresh stars. Together, Jones and Beck are not just call-ups—they could be the final cards Boone can play to keep playoff hopes alive.

The Yankees’ playoff fate rests on two fronts: their stars aligning against the resilient Astros and the timely promotion of Spencer Jones and Brendan Beck. With September coming quickly, vital choices are the only path forward. If the Yankees want October glory, the moment to act is now.