Here are five things to watch as the Yankees take on the Brewers at Yankee Stadium in a three-game series…

Old Timers’ Day

It’s an annual tradition and this season, Yankees Old Timers' Day will be special.

Yea, the former Yankees won’t play an actual game, but to see Derek Jeter participate in his first Old Timers' Day will be something to behold. A lot of those players from the late 1990s, early 2000s team will be featured.

And while there is no actual game to be played, the guests will share their Yankees memories in a question-and-answer roundtable format. It’ll be interesting to hear stories of past seasons and the guests' thoughts on the current team.

Improbable playoff push continues

Don’t look now, but the Yankees are just 7.0 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Yeah, it’s still highly unlikely that the Yanks squeeze into the postseason, but the ride has been fun and they are finally entertaining to watch.

The Yankees, winners of nine of their last 11 games, enter the weekend series not just in pursuit of a playoff berth but looking to jump the Red Sox to get out of the AL East basement.

Boston will take on the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles so there’s a good chance the Yankees can make up some ground if they can win their series. The Seattle Mariners, who New York trails by 9.0 games in the Wild Card race, will take on the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend.

New York plays a very good Milwaukee Brewers team, so it won’t be easy to win this series. The Yanks will avoid Freddy Peralta (11-8. 3.89 ERA) and Brandon Woodruff (4-1, 2.30 ERA) but they will have to face off against 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.

Luckily for the Yankees, they’ll have their ace on the mound when they take on Burnes.

Gerrit Cole’s path to a Cy Young

It seems like every week Cole strengthens his case for his first Cy Young, and he did so against the Tigers on Tuesday when he brought his ERA down to 2.90 -- the lowest in the American League. If he can be as dominant against a playoff-bound team like the Brewers and pitching across from a former Cy Young winner, that case will go way up.

Over his last three starts, Cole has given up just four runs in 19.2 innings pitched while amassing 25 strikeouts. Milwaukee ranks 20th in strikeouts per game (8.78) so that bodes well for Cole.

In his career against Milwaukee, Cole is 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA while striking out 96 batters over 87 innings. HIs last start against the Brewers came almost a year ago, when he went five innings while giving up four runs and striking out eight batters as he picked up the win.

Popular in the Community