NEW YORK — When the Yankees followed a World Series run with a great start to 2025 playing a bunch of new faces, there was a lot of talk about how they were a better team with Max Fried in the rotation, Cody Bellinger in the outfield and Juan Soto cashing paychecks from the Mets.

Then came almost two months of losing baseball.

Yankees fans were angry and once again complained about Aaron Boone’s managing and general manager Brian Cashman’s roster construction.

Inside the Yankees clubhouse, there was no panic, no real concern.

Boone told his players that they were the best team in the league on July 3 after the Blue Jays took over first by sweeping them four games in Toronto.

As the slump continued, Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm and other Yankees kept saying adversity like this hits every team. They constantly talked up their talent, experience and makeup.

With trade-deadline moves improving the bullpen, third base and bench, the Yankees were proven right. They got hot and stayed hot. Nobody in the majors played better while they were finishing the season going 34-14.

All of that led to 94 wins, which tied the Blue Jays for the most in the league but kept them for repeating as AL East champions because Toronto won the season series.

And so the Yankees are heading to the playoffs as the AL’s first wild card, which brings home-field advantage for every game in a best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.

‘We’ve had some battles with them all year and I’m looking forward to another fun series,” Judge said.

Game 1 is Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium with two left-handed Cy Young candidates dueling, 19-game winner Fried for the Yankees and 18-game winner Garrett Crochet for Boston.

The Yankees have the better offense. They scored more runs and hit more homers than anyone in the majors. They also have Judge, who just became the third player ever to win a batting title and hit 50-or-more homers.

The Red Sox’s lineup will be without its best hitter, rookie outfielder Roman Anthony. He didn’t debut until June and played only 71 games before suffering an oblique strain in September, but the Red Sox were 44-27 when he played and 45-45 without him.

The Yankees like their chances.

“A month and a half ago we were teetering on even being out of the (postseason) picture a little bit,” Boone said. “To right the ship and then really solidify our position, and then have a real shot at the at the East here all the way to the last day, hopefully is something that serves as well.

“It’s kept us sharp, has kept us really locked in and I think that’s a good thing.”

Who’s winning?

Here are our predictions:

Randy Miller, beat writer: “Yankees homer the Red Sox to death, sweep their way into an ALDS showdown with Blue Jays.”

Max Goodman, beat writer: “After getting shut down by Garrett Crochet in Game 1, Yankees win two in a row to advance.”

Bob Klapisch, baseball columnist: “Judge stays hot, Yankees in 3,”