The New York Yankees don’t want to repeat last season’s mistake. Early in the 2026 season, the Yankees (4-1) hold a narrow lead in the AL East over the second-place Blue Jays (4-2). While the Yankees have opened the season on the road, the Blue Jays have started in their home ballpark. Unlike last season, the Yankees are at the top now, and they would like to stay there. For that, and to continue with their series sweeps, a veteran Yankee has emphasized what needs to be done.

The Yankees ended the regular season last year, 94-68, tying with the Blue Jays. Finishing runners-up in the division cost them their home-field advantage in the postseason. Ultimately, the Yankees lost the ALDS to Toronto, 3-1. To avoid a repetition of the last, Giancarlo Stanton sent an ultimatum and demanded uber-focus from his teammates, reported The Athletic. Stanton does not want to play catch-up when it comes to securing the division title like they did last year.

“It’s a hard game, but if we beat and finish the teams, we’re supposed to beat and finish, and not just be satisfied we won the first two (games) and come in like we won the series already. Because it’s important,” emphasized Stanton, per The Athletic.

Stanton stressed the importance of sweeping a series. He did not want his team to be satisfied with winning the first two games and taking the third lightly. The Yankees have already registered their first sweep of the season, winning 3-0 against the SF Giants.

The Yankees captain, Aaron Judge, too, has reportedly spoken about the importance of sweeping series. He believed it could become the deciding factor between winning a division and tying and losing it.

The Yankees had acquired Stanton from the Miami Marlins in December 2017. Stanton was originally under a 13-year, $325 million contract with the Marlins. The Yankees will pay him $29 million this year.

Stanton further added, “It’s important, clearly from last year, and we did a great job at the end of the year when we won, what, eight in a row or whatever — and it still didn’t get us where we wanted. Take that energy across the whole year instead of, ‘Here’s the comparison and the numbers. Let’s try to beat them now (and) catch up.’”

The mid-season did not look good for the Yankees in 2025, with an ineffective bullpen, messy fielding, and base running. From June 13 to August 4, the Yankees were 18-27. However, a late-season comeback by winning eight straight games and winning 11 out of 12 final games got them back into the competition. But ultimately, it was not enough. They played catch-up and could not recover in time to regain control of the division.

The ultimatum for bringing the highest level of focus to games came from the Yankees veteran trio, Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, and Stanton, before their Giants game on Saturday.

According to Stanton, “At the end of the day, it’s focus with it being everyday: late nights, cross-country, early mornings — whatever you want. Focus is the main thing that sways, with energy, as well. But low energy is low focus. It’s one and the same.”

After their initial loss against the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees have bounced back with a 5-0 win. They are also on the verge of winning the series, as they lead the Mariners 5-3 in the third game.

Their focus appears to have snapped back into place as the Yankees tied an 83-year-old record. They have allowed only three runs, the fewest in the first five games of the season since the St. Louis Cardinals in 1943.

Behind their latest record, ace Max Fried played a major role.

Max Fried continues with his spotless ERA for the Yankees

The Yankees’ ace Max Fried made his second start of the season against the Mariners on Tuesday. T-Mobile Park witnessed Fried’s seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, a single walk, and striking out six.

Tuesday’s match was the Yankees’ third shutout in five games, the first time they’ve accomplished that feat since 2002

Following his second win, Fried stated, per MLB.com, “There weren’t times where I was just fighting to throw strikes; I felt like I was actually able to locate today, which made things a lot easier.”

Fried’s ERA is still spotless after throwing 13.1 innings, allowing 2 walks, 5 hits, and 10 strikeouts in his two starts.

Stanton also appreciated the Yankees’ pitching work led by Fried. He admitted to MLB.com, “They’ve made it easier on us, for sure. It’s a much easier at-bat when the other team has zero runs.”

Stanton himself went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against the Mariners.

After their series finale against Seattle, the Yankees will have their first home game on Friday against the Miami Marlins.