Yankees top White Sox 5-3 as Gilbert’s glove is confiscated during fifth-inning inspection

The New York Yankees defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-3 in The Bronx on Thursday night, a win that unfolded amid a midgame glove-inspection controversy involving White Sox left-hander Tyler Gilbert. After entering in the fifth inning, Gilbert’s glove was confiscated following an umpire inspection for sticky substance. MLB said crew chief Dan Bellino indicated there was nothing on Gilbert’s hand, and the glove was sent for league review while the pitcher stayed in the game with a new glove.

Gilbert came in with two runners on and one out, walked Ben Rice to load the bases, and then Giancarlo Stanton launched a ground ball to third that Curtis Mead misplayed for what was ruled a three-run double. The inning helped the Yankees turn a deficit into a lead that they would not surrender, with the glove issue becoming a storyline in a game otherwise defined by late-inning offense and bullpen work. The decision to confiscate the glove, rather than remove the pitcher, underscored the league’s approach to equipment checks during the regular season. "They said they didn’t like something in the glove, but there was nothing on his hand or anything," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. Gilbert remained on the mound with a fresh glove as New York extended its lead en route to a 5-3 victory.

Aaron Judge reached base four times, including two walks that became historic as the most intentional guided walks in American League history for a single season. Judge’s 36 intentional walks this season surpass Ted Williams’ 34 in 1957, the mark that had stood since such tracking began in 1955. The performance underscored Judge’s value atop the Yankees’ lineup as New York began mapping its path toward the postseason.

The Yankees also laid out a possible rotation plan for the season-ending series against the Baltimore Orioles. The club’s probable starters, in order, were Will Warren, Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil, with Schlittler slated to start Friday. Schlittler, Warren and Gil are among the candidates for an if-needed Game 3 in a potential wild-card series. Boone said the team would adjust as needed based on health and the structure of the playoff rotation, stressing that the bye could be a help rather than a hindrance depending on how the series plays out. “We’ll see how the next couple days unfold,” Boone said, highlighting the strategic value of rest versus rust heading into October.

Luke Weaver tossed a scoreless seventh inning and has not allowed a run in his last five appearances. David Bednar worked a spotless ninth, extending his streak of not allowing an earned run in 39 of his past 44 appearances. The conversation around byes in the postseason has been mixed in the sport, with some arguing that extra rest could lead to rust, while others see it as essential for a deep October run. Boone, however, offered a different take on the concept: “I’ll take the bye all day long. It’s winning a series essentially without having to play one.” He added that, while anything can happen in the postseason, the benefit of a favorable schedule in the wild-card round remains meaningful for a team chasing a title.

The Yankees’ win tightened their positioning as they race toward the end of the regular season, with postseason implications lingering as they approach a pivotal stretch against the Orioles. The league’s handling of Gilbert’s glove will be reviewed in the coming days, and while the immediate impact on the game was clear, the storyline underscored how equipment checks can influence a game’s momentum in real time. The Yankees improved to stay in the mix for a potential playoff berth, while the White Sox continued their pursuit of a competitive finish.