For the first time all season, the Yankees owned a postseason berth after sweeping the Boston Red Sox in a split doubleheader Tuesday night.

After all the tumult they've been through -- from injuries, to bad hitting, to spotty starts from the rotation -- they've been patient and are hot at just the right time.

Now the goal is to sustain it.

They did so on Wednesday night, as Andrew Heaney had his best start since coming to the Yanks and shut down the Sox in a 5-2 victory to secure the sweep. And with the Oakland A's taking another loss to the Chicago White Sox, New York owns the top Wild Card slot by 1.0 game with a 69-52 record.

Wow, have things changed in just a few weeks. That's baseball at its finest.

But the Sox and others are still gunning for one of those coveted Wild Card spots to get the chance to play in the division series. And that's not going to stop for another month and a half.

So with that in mind, here's what needs to happen for the Yankees to stay in it to ensure their spot in October baseball...

1) Health for Starting Nine

Obviously this is easier said than done. But you'll be seeing shortly just how lethal this starting nine can be, especially when things are going well like they are at the moment.

Luke Voit and Anthony Rizzo in the same lineup is something the Yanks should be able to figure out, and either way, the right-left-right-left power combo at the top has been a strategy opposing managers will have a tough time navigating.

The Yankees' depth has been doing well, but when September comes around and every game feels like Game 7 of the ALCS, that's when you want your best players on the field -- offensively and defensively.

2) Kluber Must Lock Down No. 2 Rotation Spot

Corey Kluber is very close to a return to New York, and when he's back, there will be pressure on him to pitch well.

Why? The Yankees desperately need him to be their No. 2 guy.

Jordan Montgomery has been consistent for New York this season, but when the postseason rolls around, he can't be the man behind Gerrit Cole in a series -- if it gets that far for New York.

Luis Gil's emergence has been solid and the Yanks can certainly keep bringing him back up to make starts through the rest of the regular season, especially considering he hasn't allowed a run yet in his young career. But having Kluber pitching well will give the bullpen some more breathing room, and in turn, give the Yanks more chances to get the edge early in games.

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