Yankees Make Franchise History With Awful ALDS Series
The New York Yankees are eliminated from World Series contention, in what could only be described as one of the most embarrassing playoff series in MLB history. With a MLB lockout seemingly on the horizon, the Yankees gave fans a sting in what may have been their final three games till 2028.
Game 1: No-hit through 7.2 innings highlighted by Austin Wells trying to stretch a borderline double into a triple. Wells did not even look for the stop sign (which there was) as he rounded second with the ball already being thrown back into the infield. Nonetheless the Yankees offense was silent as Drew Rasmussen pitched a gem for Tampa Bay.
Game 2: 4 errors. The Yankees defense had more holes than a cigarette-burned motel bed sheet. Presumptive Cy Young winner Cam Schlitter had a slightly below average game, but it was hard for him to get comfortable when the defense couldn’t field a simple grounder.
Game 3: A must-win situation, the Yankees need 3-straight wins to advance. With their season on the line Aaron Boone put sub .200 playoff hitting Trent Grisham at the leadoff spot. New York nearly tied the game, but an Anthony Volpe 2-run homer would be called back into an RBI double due to fan interference. Boone would be seen smiling during the Paul Blackburn pitching exchange in the 8th inning, which would then see the Yankees officially lose just an inning later.
A 3-and-out for New York had the Tampa Bay Rays celebrating to New York, New York in the Yankee Stadium locker room. This is now the third consecutive year that the Yankees have lost a playoff series at home. It started in the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, then again in the 2025 ALDS against the Blue Jays and now the Yankees are once again stopped in the ALDS via the sweep by Tampa Bay.
The Yankees weren't just bad, they were historically terrible:
2026 ALDS Stats
.130 BA
.192 OBP
.239 SLG
.431 OPS
Those stats are the lowest BA, OBP, SLG and OPS in any multi-game postseason series in Yankees franchise history.
If you take out Ben Rice’s stats then the entire line gets a whole lot darker:
2026 ALDS Stats WITHOUT Ben Rice
.110 BA
.161 OBP
.159 SLG
.320 OPS
The Yankees went 9-for-82 hitting with no home runs without Ben Rice’s stats counted.
Now, the Yankees start an early vacation as the Rays move onto the ALCS.
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