Yankees face defining stretch to prove September surge real

The New York Yankees entered September riding a late surge that has pushed them back into contention in the American League East and bolstered their hold on a wild card spot, but the club faces a defining stretch of games that will test whether the run is a true turnaround or momentum built on easier competition. Over the past two weeks the Yankees strung together a string of wins in Chicago and Houston, highlighted by Trent Grisham’s recent power surge and several strong starts from left-hander Max Fried, putting New York within roughly two to three games of the Toronto Blue Jays for the division lead.

Grisham, who began the month as a relative afterthought, has become a middle-of-the-order force, belting multiple grand slams and carrying a slugging surge that reports put near 28 to 30 home runs on the season. His breakout performance included a go-ahead grand slam in Chicago and another big blow in Houston, scoring pivotal runs in games New York needed against higher-quality opponents. Fried followed with a string of quality outings, including seven innings of one-run baseball in Houston, reducing concerns after a difficult July and early August stretch.