If the Yankees complete a miraculous comeback to tie the Red Sox for the AL East lead, the one-game playoff would be in The Bronx on Monday.
The Bombers get home-field advantage because they won the season series 11-8, aided by taking three of four from Boston in their final series, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees, who went 5-4 versus Boston in The Bronx this season, were 5 ½ games back on Sept. 1 and still five games behind after losing to the Blue Jays on Sunday.
Should the teams square off Monday, it would be the first time the AL East crown would be decided in a one-game playoff since the Yankees beat the Red Sox on Bucky Dent’s home run in 1978.
The division winner would play the team with the second-best record in the AL, currently the Astros, in the ALDS beginning either Thursday or Friday. The loser would host the Twins in the winner-take-all wild-card game Tuesday.
The Yankees need to win their two remaining games against the Blue Jays and have the Red Sox drop two to the Astros to force the playoff.