Let’s put this in perspective. Not long ago, the Yankees were perched comfortably atop the AL East.

Fast forward to now, and they’re not just out of first-they’ve dropped all the way to third, behind the rival Red Sox, no less. If the playoffs began today, they’d only sneak in as a wild card, holding onto their spot by a slim two-game margin.

And with other teams closing in fast, the pressure is mounting.

Manager Aaron Boone didn’t mince words after the sweep. “Gut check time,” he told reporters-a clear signal that this squad is at a crossroads as it heads into the final two months of the regular season.

And Boone’s words carry weight. Since the end of May, the Yankees are 25-32.

That’s not a cold streak-it’s a full-on regression that’s included three separate sweeps, two of which came at the hands of division rivals Boston and Toronto. When divisional games start stacking up in the loss column, you’re not just losing ground-you’re handing it directly to your competition.

Of course, injuries have played a role, most notably the absence of Aaron Judge. Losing your MVP-caliber leader will always sting, and it’s clear the offense has had trouble finding its footing without him. But Judge’s absence doesn’t fully explain what’s happening on the field.

The Yankees’ current problems go deeper than the lineup card. Their defense has been shaky and the lapses on the base paths have been costly.

We’re seeing missed assignments, mental errors, and sloppy execution-things that championship-caliber teams typically tighten up by this stage of the year. Right now, the Yankees look far from that level.

There’s still time, but the margin for error is getting thinner by the day. With a crowded AL wild card race and no let-up in the schedule, the Yankees need a serious turnaround-and fast.

Whether “gut check time” turns into a rallying cry or a summary of a missed opportunity is up to the guys in pinstripes. The clock is ticking in the Bronx.