Yankees Clinch AL Top Seed for Playoffs

The New York Yankees have clinched the top seed in the American League playoffs, securing home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2012. This achievement was confirmed after the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night, despite the Yankees' own loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees will face the winner of the Wild Card series between the Baltimore Orioles and either the Detroit Tigers or Kansas City Royals. With the top seed, the Yankees avoid facing their postseason rival Astros until a potential ALCS matchup. Manager Aaron Boone has been resting key players, including Aaron Judge, to prepare for the playoffs, even as Judge continues to chase home run records. The Yankees' strong finish to the season, including their AL East title, has set them up favorably for the postseason.