NEW YORK -- A day after the Yankees won the American League East title, outfielder Aaron Judge was not in the lineup Friday night for a much-needed day off.

The last game Judge had off was on June 19 against the Orioles; that was both the last game he didn't start and the last in which he didn't appear at any point. Friday ended a streak of 83 games for Judge.

“I’ve been wanting to give him a day off, so I finally get him one here,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m planning on these [regulars playing] this weekend. But a few of them will get at least a day and go from there.”

But New York had a chance to clinch the top seed in the AL postseason because the Guardians lost to the Astros, 5-2. The Yankees were unable to capture the top spot because they lost to the Pirates, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium. New York needs one win or one Cleveland loss to have home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. The Yankees will try to get that victory on Saturday, when they send rookie Luis Gil to the mound to face Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

On Friday, the score was tied at 2 when the Pirates scored off reliever Tommy Kahnle in the top of the eighth inning. With Billy Cook on first after a single, Bryan Reynolds hit a 1-0 pitch over the center-field fence to give Pittsburgh the two-run lead, his second homer of the game. It was the first homer Kahnle had allowed since July 14 against the Orioles.

Aroldis Chapman retired the Yankees in order and picked up his 13th save of the season. Boone acknowledged he was tempted to use Judge and Giancarlo Stanton as pinch-hitters in the ninth inning, but New York needed runners on base for that firepower to be in the game.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled up the middle on an 0-1 pitch from reliever Joey Wentz to send home Jose Trevino and Oswaldo Cabrera.

Pittsburgh tied the score at 2 against Yankees starter Carlos Rodón in the sixth inning when Nick Gonzales and Reynolds hit consecutive home runs to open the inning. After getting Joey Bart to ground out, Rodón was taken out of the game, ending his season 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA. His next start will be sometime during the AL Division Series.

It was a huge comeback for the left-hander, who had a season to forget last year, when he had a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts.

“He finished off what was an outstanding regular season for me,” Boone said. “I’m just proud of him – all he has been through to get to this point and go out there and make 32 starts for us. I loved the kind of innings he logged for us. [He gave us] 16 wins. Just an outstanding season. I feel like he is ready to go for the postseason.

“It’s a credit to him, taking the bull by the horn and getting after it in every kind of way starting in the winter,” Boone said. “His connections with our pitching group, with our training staff, with our strength and conditioning people, he was just on board and locked in really from the jump. … He has continued that in such a good way. That’s him being motivated.”

When told what Boone said, Rodón said, “It’s nice coming from the manager. I’m glad he is proud of me. I went out and made every start this year. I tried to give the team the best chance to win.”

Now it’s time for Rodón to look forward to the ALDS. He could pitch in either Game 2 or 3. Gerrit Cole most likely will pitch Game 1.

“It’s going to be really fun in the Bronx,” Rodón said. “It’s going to be electric, and I’m definitely looking forward to Game 1.”