The Yankees survived a 12-game gauntlet against four likely playoff clubs, going 7-5 and locking in the top AL wild-card path as they close with a favorable schedule. Boone’s sleep strategy and Judge’s arm rehab shaped decisions, while a deep rotation and improving bullpen helped the push into October.

Key fantasy takeaways: Judge’s cautious ramp and looming October arm usage; Caballero’s rise over Volpe at short; Bednar as closer and a bullpen finding its footing; Gil and Schlittler fueling the rotation depth; Grisham and Bellinger stabilizing the outfield as Dominguez develops, making late-season lineups and playoff projections dynamic and compelling.

Cody Bellinger’s 95.3 mph throw from right saved a run as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 3-1 in a rain-delayed game. New York used two unearned runs in the second, Wells’ two sacrifice flies, and Bednar locked it down with a four-out save. Judge returned at DH and went 1-for-4, while Vlad Guerrero Jr. supplied Toronto’s offense with a pair of hits and Lukes contributed a late-inning single for Toronto. The win tightens NYY’s series outlook and showcases clutch defense and timely hitting.

Toronto couldn’t string together sustained rallies after the delay, though Guerrero Jr. remained a spark over a six-game hot stretch. The Jays got a solid start from Bassitt but failed to cash in on early chances, while Bellinger’s arm and Bednar’s save highlighted a Yankees victory built on defense, opportunistic scoring, and bullpen supremacy in the late innings.

The Yankees fell 7-1 to Toronto as Aaron Judge’s first outfield action since July underscored lingering throwing limits. Toronto used aggressive baserunning to test him early, Varsho scoring on a weak throw and the Jays poking at NYY’s defensive seams. Boone offered terse comments, signaling concern without a fixed fix. With Judge’s bat central, New York must balance his health with an outfield rotation that features Bellinger, Domínguez and Stanton, keeping Judge at DH when possible. The October chess match now hinges on Judge’s arm and the outfield math.

Aaron Judge returns from the IL to the Yankees as a designated hitter, setting up lineup fiddling as New York reopens an outfield spot. Jasson Domínguez, promising but still raw, could see his playing time shrink as Judge and co. push back into the field. Domínguez hits right-handed well enough but struggles left-handed (.204/.279/.290, OPS .569), making a platoon skew likely. Trent Grisham is cited as a benchmark with a still-subpar .662 OPS, highlighting the risk of overvaluing upside if ABs dry up. For fantasy, monitor Judge’s field time and Domínguez’s at-bats as the Yankees balance development with wins.

The dynamic matters most for Domínguez’s fantasy trajectory: his upside hinges on getting regular at-bats, especially against lefties. If Domínguez remains in a strict righty-lefty split, his value could be capped until he proves he can own lefties. Grisham’s mention signals that even with opportunity, the platoon nuance will govern daily fantasy and DFS upside for both teams.

Bottom line for fantasy players: expect Judge to reclaim outfield duties gradually while Domínguez lands on a tighter AB floor until he fixes the left-handed bias. Grisham provides a cautious comparator for the Padres’ lineup; neither is a slam dunk, but speculating on platoon shifts could yield seasonal value gaps to exploit.