Yankees pull out series win over Blue Jays to creep closer in tightening AL East race
Don’t look now, but the Yankees are closing in on first place in the AL East after winning a series over the Blue Jays.
They drew to within two games of front-running Toronto with 19 games left after Sunday’s 4-3 victory in The Bronx.
It featured a gritty outing by Max Fried, who struggled in the second and third innings but settled in for seven strong innings in another solid start.
Ben Rice provided most of the offense with a three-run shot in the first.
And Devin Williams, who’s had a mostly miserable first season with the Yankees, pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the heart of Toronto’s order to preserve a one-run lead before David Bednar closed it for a second straight game.
The win put the Yankees 17 games over .500, matching their season high, as they won for the 11th time in 14 games since dropping three straight to Boston last month.
Yankees first base Ben Rice (22) reacts after hitting a three run home run during the first inning of a MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.
And the last time they were closer to first place was on July 3, shortly after they surrendered the division lead to Toronto.
Asked if the division title is within reach, Fried said, “It’s definitely there, but we’ve got to go out there and take care of business.”
He noted the Yankees are done playing Toronto for the regular season.
But their recent play has changed the narrative for a team that was 6 ½ games back just over two weeks ago.
“We are in a position to go get it,’’ Aaron Boone said of catching the Blue Jays. “Now we’ve got to go do it.”
Max Fried pitches during the second inning of a MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.
This one came with plenty of drama — all the way to the end, as Bednar gave up a one-out hit to Nathan Lukes, but Austin Wells threw him out trying to steal second and got Myles Straw to end it, keeping George Springer from getting another at-bat.
And Williams survived a leadoff single by pinch hitter Addison Barger — who then swiped second — by striking out Vladimir Guerrero Jr., getting Alejandro Kirk on a groundout and after a walk to Ernie Clement, got Ty France to ground to third.
The Yankees got most of their offense early on, as Rice’s three-run homer off Max Scherzer in the first came after a 10-pitch at-bat and they added a run in the third with an RBI double from Cody Bellinger that scored Aaron Judge, but didn’t get a hit the rest of the way.
The Blue Jays got back in the game with a pair of runs in the second, with Toronto again running on Judge, who was in right field, still feeling the effects of the flexor strain in his elbow.
Cody Bellinger tosses his bat after hitting a RBI double during the third inning of a MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.
Clement doubled in part because of Judge’s arm, which set up both runs in the inning, as Lukes’ fly ball to medium right field drove in Clement to make it 3-2.
Anthony Volpe followed with an excellent play to his right on Straw’s grounder into the hole for the final out of the inning to preserve the lead.
Springer opened the third with a double to right and came in on a Guerrero double to left.
With runners on second and third and no one out, Fried got Kirk to bounce out, Clement on a soft liner up the middle thanks to a diving grab by Volpe and then France grounded to third to keep it 3-3.
The Yankees went ahead for good in the bottom of the inning with a one-out walk and stolen base by Judge and a booming RBI double to right-center from Bellinger.
Judge then saved a run in the fourth with a terrific diving catch on Springer’s sinking liner for the final out and Lukes on second.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) fields Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (5) RBI double during the 9th inning when the New York Yankees played the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, September 5, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY.
And the Yankees held on the rest of the way.
Next up during a crucial 12-game stretch against potential playoff foes are the Tigers, who come to The Bronx Tuesday.
So far, the Yankees have taken series from the Astros — in Houston — and against the first-place Blue Jays.
“Just keep going, keep winning,’’ Wells said of the team’s approach to the stretch run. “I think at the end of the year, if we do that, we’ll be where we want to be.”
Bruins' Jeremy Swayman faces make-or-break season: Will he rebound or crumble under pressure?
The Boston Bruins' 2025-2026 season may hinge on the performance of one player: Jeremy Swayman. After an abysmal year in 2024-2025, which saw the 26-year-old goaltender posting career-worst numbers, Swayman finds himself in a do-or-die situation. If he doesn’t rebound, the Bruins could be staring at another season in the basement of the Atlantic Division.
The struggles were undeniable last season. From missing training camp due to a financial stalemate to failing to find any consistency in net, Swayman finished with a dismal 3.11 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage in a career-high 58 games. While injuries to key defensemen like Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm certainly didn’t help, the spotlight shone brightest on Swayman’s inability to deliver when it mattered most. Add to that the criticism surrounding his $8.25 million contract, and the pressure is now at an all-time high.
For Swayman, this season is not just about proving himself to the Bruins organization. It's about proving his worth to Team USA, with a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2026 Winter Games on the line. With elite goaltenders like Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger competing for the same spot, Swayman can't afford to falter early. Any struggles could push him out of the Olympic conversation entirely.
“That's always the hardest problem with being a goalie,” Hellebuyck explained at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp. “There are multiple guys but only one net.”
Indeed, Swayman knows that if he doesn't perform, others will take his spot. But the pressure doesn't end there. Without no-trade protection on his contract until next season, Bruins GM Don Sweeney may be forced to make a decision on Swayman’s future sooner than expected.
“We have an endless belief mindset,” Swayman said, trying to stay focused on the present. “We can’t predict what’s going to happen, but the thing is that we can control what we can control, right here, right now.”
However, with backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo hardly posing a challenge to Swayman’s role, it’s clear that the onus is squarely on the young goaltender. A slow start could easily sink the Bruins’ playoff aspirations and seal Swayman’s fate.
"This season is make or break for me. I've had my fair share of struggles, but I’m not backing down. The pressure is on, and I’m ready to prove that I belong at the top. It's time to take control of my career and show the world that I’m not just the goalie of the past—I’m the future of this team," Swayman declared, putting his focus on bouncing back and earning the trust of both his team and his fans.
With a season packed with both personal and team-related stakes, this is undeniably a boom-or-bust year for the young goalie. Will Swayman rise to the challenge, or will this be the season he gets lost in the shuffle?
One thing’s for sure: Swayman’s performance will be under the microscope all year long, and his every move will be scrutinized. The future of the Bruins—and his career—could very well be determined by how he handles the immense pressure.
