At the All-Star break last season, the Yankees were on a potentially historic pace, a dozen games up in the AL East and drawing comparisons to the 1998 team that won 114 regular-season games en route a World Series title. Aaron Judge already had Roger Maris’ American League home run record in his sights.

Then they opened the second half with a makeup doubleheader in Houston and got swept by the Astros.

Afterward, Aaron Boone was asked about his team’s inability to figure out the Astros, and the manager pointed out the Yankees’ struggles against their rivals wouldn’t matter if they beat them in October.

“Ultimately, we may have to slay the dragon, right?” Boone said in Houston that day. “If it comes to it in October, the proof will be in the pudding. Do we get it done?”