The New York Yankees secured their playoff berth with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, marking their return to postseason play after missing out last year. Star players Aaron Judge and Juan Soto played pivotal roles in the team's success, with Soto celebrating a career milestone by hitting a home run in all 30 active MLB ballparks during an earlier 11-2 rout of the Mariners. Judge leads the league with 136 RBIs and is expected to contend for the MVP award, while Soto has also excelled with his 40 home runs this season. Both players have made history as the first pair of Yankees teammates to hit 40 homers in the same season since 1961. With a commanding lead in the AL East, the Yankees aim to clinch the division title as they face off against their closest rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, in an upcoming series. The team is now focused on a deep playoff run, driven by the momentum of their recent successes.