Yankees clinch playoff berth as Aaron Judge homers in comeback win over Twins

· New York Post

MINNEAPOLIS — It was not always pretty — and in the end, was not completely their own doing — but the Yankees secured their ticket to the dance.

Now they will try to ensure that their champagne celebration Monday night was the first of many over the next six weeks.

In what long seemed like a formality, even as they went through some rough summer stretches without Aaron Judge, the Yankees clinched a playoff berth Monday with an 8-3 comeback win over the Twins at rainy and cool Target Field.

Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice hits a two-run RBI single during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Target Field. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post

Judge, fittingly, punctuated a six-run eighth inning by clobbering a three-run moonshot — his first home run in six games since he returned from a three-month IL stay for a broken right rib — to the third deck in left field.

It may as well have been a warning shot to the rest of the American League, because if this was a sign of things to come for Judge, watch out.

Minutes later, the Blue Jays lost to the Tigers in Toronto, officially punching the Yankees’ playoff ticket before they finished off their own win over the Twins (70-80) in style.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge celebrates hitting a three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday, September 14, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Besides getting Judge on track, the Yankees (87-63) will now spend the final 12 games trying to chase down the Rays, whom they now trail by 3 ½ games for first place in the American League, with a crucial four-game showdown looming next week in The Bronx.

The Yankees also extended their lead over the Red Sox to five games for the top AL wild card.