Since 2015, the New York Yankees have made the playoffs nine times. But they have only topped the division three times in 2019, 2022, and 2024. And every other time, they’ve had to sneak in through the Wild Card! And this year’s no different, too!

After knocking out the Red Sox in the Wild Card game, the Yankees moved on to face the Blue Jays in the ALDS. But things have gone downhill fast. They were blown out 10–1 in Game 1 and now 13–7 in Game 2. And that was enough fuel for Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy to take a jab at the Yankees amid Aaron Judge’s less flattering records getting highlighted this postseason.

“But the Yankees will always have wild card celly”. Portnoy shared this caption with a champagne celebration of the Yankees after they won their Wild Card series against the Red Sox.

A lighthearted dig referring to how the Yankees couldn’t go beyond the Wild Card series. But can we have some more restraint before concluding on the Yankees?

In the Wild Card series, the Yankees went down against the Red Sox in the first game, but still made a grand comeback. And now, the Blue Jays still need to win one more game to seal the series.

So, the Yankees still have time to turn things around. But it feels like those old postseason ghosts are back to haunt Aaron Judge.

While we are still reeling from that infamous dropped ball in Game 5 of last year’s World Series, once more, Judge’s postseason struggles seem to be piling up. It’s wild as he’s made just two errors in the entire regular season over the last four years. Yet he’s already matched that total in the 2025 playoffs. But that’s just one issue…

The Yankees’ pitching southward journey continues

It’s not only on Aaron Judge to put things correct for the Yankees. It was also on their bullpen to restrict the runs. But they continue to blow up the games since the regular season. And in Game 2, the Yankees’ starting rotation also faltered.

This game showed just how badly Max Fried got lit up by the Blue Jays. Notably, during the regular season, Fried was on a hot streak. In 16 starts following a Yankees loss, he went 11-1 with a 1.82 ERA, and the team won 12 of those games. But on Sunday in Game 2 of the ALDS, things went completely off the rails.

The Blue Jays teed off on him for seven runs in just over three innings, racking up eight hits and two walks at Rogers Centre. And with back-to-back blowout losses, the Yankees made some unfortunate franchise history. The 23 runs they’ve given up over the last two games are the most ever allowed by New York in a postseason span that short.

Simply put, the Yankees’ pitching has been completely exposed. Now it’s up to Carlos Rodon to stop the bleeding in Game 3. He went 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA during the regular season and took a no-decision in the Wild Card round after giving up three runs over six-plus innings. Now, only time will tell if he can keep New York’s postseason dreams alive.