Royals pose strong ALDS challenge to Yankees as a “dangerous team.”

The Yankees’ last 10 trips to the postseason didn’t end in the Canyon of Heroes.

So Brian Cashman knows all too well that no matter how good he feels about his club in October — or what his potential path to the World Series might look like — all it takes is a few bad games to derail everything.

But the Yankees will try again starting Saturday against the Royals in the ALDS and try to win the franchise’s elusive 28th championship.

“I think we have a great shot, but we only have a great shot when we play our best baseball,” Cashman said on a Zoom call Thursday. “I know we have the skills, but at the same time I would like to point out that we have had the skills often enough. You have to combine these skills with great defense, great baserunning, tremendous offensive hits against extremely strong pitchers, and of course the most important aspect is throwing to the best of your abilities.

“I think we have the pieces that are here, we have the will to make it happen. Now we just have to face an opponent who is very worthy. They have earned the right to be here and they are a dangerous team, as we recently saw when we played them not too long ago.”

Cashman spoke a day after the Yankees’ annual playoff nemesis (Astros) and their current divisional nemesis (Orioles) were both eliminated from the playoffs.

Suddenly, it’s just the Yankees and three AL Central teams – a division the Yankees have made a habit of chewing up and spitting out over the last few Octobers – left standing on the AL side of the bracket.

But the Royals have the kind of starting pitching — led by Seth Lugo (the likely Game 3 starter) and lefty Cole Ragans (Game 2 starter), both of whom will receive AL Cy Young votes, with veteran Michael Wacha competing in Game 1 – that can keep teams up at night.

And when you consider that they failed in the last few postseason runs, especially on offense, history is in danger of repeating itself.

Then again, the Yankees have never had Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in the same lineup for a playoff run, although they’ll likely need the supporting cast to join them as well.

“I think the guys are ready,” manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. “I think they’re really focused, I think they’re really hungry and we’re excited to give it our shot.”

The Yankees, who played simulated games at the stadium on Wednesday and Thursday followed by a team dinner on Thursday, lost 5-2 to the Royals in the regular season.

They won three of four games at Kauffman Stadium in June before winning two of three games in the Bronx in the second week of September.

The Royals’ strong three starters for the ALDS and a bullpen that has gotten better over time threaten to become spoilsports in a five-game series.

They got here by holding the Orioles to just one run and 11 hits in a two-game sweep in the wild-card series with starts from Ragans and Lugo.

And their lineup got a boost earlier this week when slugger Vinnie Pasquantino returned from a broken thumb to give star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. better protection behind him.

“I think we can compete well against anyone, but I also know that every team scares me and is dangerous,” Boone said. “What we have seen all year from this Royals team is that they are very versatile and have excellent starting pitching. … I think they’re a formidable team, they’re a scary team. They are coming off a big win in the away series against a good opponent and will probably come into this with a lot of confidence.

“Nevertheless, we are looking forward to the challenge. I can’t wait to get started on Saturday night.”

The Yankees spent part of the season playing like the best team in baseball, part of it playing like one of the worst teams in baseball, and part of it somewhere in between.

But they can’t afford such cold swings with so much at stake come Saturday.

“My biggest concern is that it’s a sport where there are ups and downs, great games and bad games,” Cashman said. “In October you need to make sure you eliminate your mistakes – or limit them as much as possible. Anyone who plays close to their abilities and at the same time limits the mistakes in the series has a chance of moving forward. Anyone who does too much will be sent home.”