Jazz Chisholm Jr. declares Yankees the true team to beat in AL race

The New York Yankees are heating up at the right time, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made it clear where he thinks his team stands in the American League picture.

After edging out the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Saturday night at Fenway Park, New York improved to 83-65, giving them a 1½-game cushion for the top AL wild-card spot. They now sit just three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the East with only 14 games left on the schedule.

Chisholm backs up his words with big play

Chisholm has been central to the Yankees’ surge. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Boston, putting him within one long ball of becoming only the third Yankee ever to record a 30/30 season. The last to do it was Alfonso Soriano back in 2003.

But Chisholm isn’t only letting his bat do the talking. After the win, he declared that New York is the team every contender needs to worry about.

“I feel like any team that thinks they’re better than us, they should know when we step on the field we’re coming to take over,” Chisholm said. “We’re not here to play around. We’re here to finish the job.”

MORE: First Ever: History Made in MLB on Sunday from Seattle

Yankees finally finding their edge

New York has won 13 of its last 18 games since late August, a stretch that includes series wins against both the Red Sox and Blue Jays. Manager Aaron Boone credited the group’s recent focus, while Chisholm pointed to a private team meeting as the spark for their turnaround.

“We finally looked ourselves in the mirror and realized we’re the team to beat,” Chisholm said.

The Yankees close out the Fenway series Sunday against Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet before finishing the year with matchups against the Twins, White Sox, and Orioles. With October looming, Chisholm’s bold words could set the tone for a club looking to return to the World Series.

More MLB News:

• Breaking: Walker Buehler finds new home in National League for September
• First Ever: History Made in MLB on Sunday from Seattle
• Paul Skenes makes quick and easy work of the Colorado Rockies
• Next up: Mickey Mantle for Seattle's Cal Raleigh
• Surprise hurler leads San Diego Padres into first place on Saturday