ANAHEIM, Calif. — One final time this summer, the Yankees’ charter crossed the Continental Divide, traveling eastbound overnight Wednesday to deliver the players home snugly into the stretch run of September.

As for traversing the mountain range separating their current wild-card status from an American League East title, well, after fumbling away the good graces of their longest winning streak since 1961 over the past few days, that is going to be far more problematic.