Yankees hope to shake up standings in Toronto

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Yankees were north of the border when they lost their grip on first place in the American League East earlier this month, swept in a four-game series by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

There would be no better place to grab a share of it back, Aaron Judge believes.

Judge and the Yankees arrived in Toronto late Sunday, having taken two of three eventful games from the Braves in Atlanta coming out of the All-Star break. The captain says now is the time to start playing the brand of baseball they know will be required to win another division crown.

“We can’t focus on the past. If we think about what happened the last time we played them, that isn’t going to change our record,” Judge said. “So we’ve got to focus on the present and what we can do right now, and just take care of business.”

The Yankees held a seven-game lead in the AL East on the morning of May 29, an off-day between series against the Angels and Dodgers on the West Coast. Another summer swoon has since erased that advantage.

After posting a 17-9 record in May, the Yankees finished a game below .500 with a 13-14 mark in June, and are off to a 7-8 start in July. That won’t cut it, as manager Aaron Boone acknowledged on Sunday.

“Not good enough to win a division, probably,” Boone said. “So hopefully that changes here in the final couple-plus months. We’re in position to do that.”

Of particular focus is improving their performance against the division, which Boone frequently refers to as being populated by clubs who insist you must “pack a lunch.” So far, they’ve barely gotten a snack, winning just 10 of 26 games against the AL East.

“That’s likely and obviously going to have to improve here in the second half if we're ultimately going to win the division,” Boone said.

• Every team's likely Trade Deadline strategy

The Toronto series arrives at a pivotal time, considering general manager Brian Cashman and his staff are working the phones for potential upgrades in advance of the July 31 Trade Deadline.

Cashman has promised the Yanks will “go to town” in search of talent -- their shopping list includes at least one starting pitcher (Zac Gallen, Mitch Keller, Merrill Kelly, Joe Ryan?), multiple relievers (David Bednar, Jhoan Duran, Raisel Iglesias, Griffin Jax?) and a third baseman (Ke’Bryan Hayes or Eugenio Suárez?).

It’s a hefty ask. The next week could shape their willingness to deal prospect capital -- one way or the other.

“I would say our first goal is to get in the playoffs,” Boone said. “Then it's to win the division, and then obviously go play for it all. But we know we've got to play better within the division.”

First things first: taking care of business against the Blue Jays, a team that plays very well in their own building, now having won 10 consecutive home games after sweeping the Giants on Sunday.

“They’re a good ballclub,” Judge said. “They’ve been playing good ball all year. Any time you play in the AL East, it’s going to be a gauntlet. Every team is usually in it, so you’ve got to be ready to go.”