Yankees Fall to Third in AL East After Marlins Sweep

The New York Yankees have experienced a significant slump since late May, falling from a first-place AL East position to third place, now trailing the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. The team was recently swept by the Miami Marlins for the first time in franchise history, a series marked by poor defense, base running, and inconsistent offense, exacerbated by the absence of injured superstar Aaron Judge. Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the moment as 'gut check time,' emphasizing the urgency for the team to regain focus and improve their play as the season progresses. Despite bolstering their roster with new acquisitions at the trade deadline, the Yankees have struggled, posting a 25-32 record since late May and suffering multiple series sweeps, including against division rivals. Boone remains confident the team can turn things around, but acknowledges that improvement is needed quickly to secure a postseason spot amid tight competition. The Yankees are currently holding a wild card position but face strong challenges from several teams close behind in the standings.