New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays ALDS Preview

Chandler Simpson of the Rays being chased by Jose Caballero of the Yankees in a rundown

Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images

October 3, 2026

For the second time ever, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in the ALDS. In 2020, the two teams met in the playoffs for the first time, with the Rays outlasting the Yankees in a Game Five thriller. This year, the Rays (98-64) and Yankees (93-68) finished with the top two records in the American League, meaning another action-packed series is in store.

Logistics

Time

Game One: Saturday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Game Two: Monday, October 5, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Game Three: Wednesday, October 7, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Game Four (if necessary): Thursday, October 8, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Game Five (if necessary): Saturday, October 10, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Location

Game One: Tropicana Field

Game Two: Tropicana Field

Game Three: Yankee Stadium

Game Four (if necessary): Yankee Stadium

Game Five (if necessary): Tropicana Field

Channel

TBS, truTV, and HBO Max

Umpires

Shane Livensparger, Jeremie Rehak, Dan Bellino (Crew Chief), Ben May, D.J. Reyburn, Ryan Wills

Yankees 2026 Season

Embed from Getty Images

The Yankees were ravaged by injuries in 2026, but their Wild Card victory over the Boston Red Sox proved how deep of a roster they have. Despite Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton not playing, homegrown talents Ben Rice, Austin Wells, and George Lombard Jr. drove in 11 of the 18 runs the Yankees scored. The starting pitching was equally good, as Cam Schlittler and Max Fried threw 12 1/3 innings of one-run baseball. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon rounding out the postseason rotation, the Yankees have one of the best pitching staffs left.

Rays 2026 Season

Embed from Getty Images

Before the 2026 season, FanGraphs projected the Rays to finish 80-82, good for last place in the American League East. However, the team defied all expectations, winning 98 games or more for the third time in six seasons. Despite finishing 22nd in home runs, the Rays used contact (.258 batting average), speed (164 stolen bases), and plate discipline (1,145 strikeouts) to lead the American League in wins. All three of those statistics led the AL, as did their 1.139 WHIP and 409 walks.

Despite their impressive regular-season run, the Rays haven’t won a postseason series since 2021. With their microscopic payroll, routinely making the playoffs is impressive. However, their lack of postseason success over the past half-decade is troubling. If there was ever a time to make a deep postseason run, it’s 2026.

2026 Meetings

Apr. 10-12: Rays won 3-0

May 22, 24: Teams split 1-1

July 6-9: Teams split 2-2

Sep. 22-24: Yankees won 3-1

Past Postseason Meetings

2020 ALDS: Rays won 3-2

Post-Trade Deadline

Yankees: 30-19 (not including postseason)

Rays: 33-18

Offensive Leaders

Yankees

AVG: Cody Bellinger, .264

HR: Ben Rice, 41

RBI: Ben Rice, 97

BB: Ben Rice, 85

OPS: Ben Rice, .897

Rays

AVG: Chandler Simpson, .306

HR: Junior Caminero, 42

RBI: Junior Caminero, 101

BB: Junior Caminero, 79

OPS: Junior Caminero, .885

Playoff Rotations

Yankees

Cam Schlittler (RHP), 14-6, 193 2/3 IP, 1.95 ERA, 0.919 WHIP

Max Fried (LHP), 5-5, 112 2/3 IP, 2.80 ERA, 0.994 WHIP

Gerrit Cole (RHP), 10-9, 127 IP, 3.61 ERA, 1.102 WHIP

Carlos Rodon (LHP), 7-3, 84 1/3 IP, 2.67 ERA, 1.055 WHIP

Rays

Drew Rasmussen (RHP), 16-5, 172 IP, 2.67 ERA, 0.913 WHIP

Nick Martinez (RHP), 15-6, 169 IP, 3.10 ERA, 1.094 WHIP

Freddy Peralta (RHP), 10-11, 169 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.325 WHIP

Ian Seymour (LHP), 9-7, 132 2/3 IP, 4.21 ERA, 1.131 WHIP

Storylines to Monitor

Embed from Getty Images

Home Sweet Home

No team in baseball was better in the regular season at home than the Rays, as their 55 wins at Tropicana Field tied the Milwaukee Brewers for most in the league. If the Yankees hope to win the series, taking one of the first two road games is paramount.

Right-Handed Success

While the Rays’ .678 OPS against lefties ranked 25th in the regular season, their .751 OPS against righties ranked fourth. That bodes well for the Rays, as the Yankees plan to start righties Cole and Schlittler in Games One and Two.

First Taste of October

The Rays found great success in the regular season, but most of their young core has yet to experience postseason baseball. Caminero, Simpson, and Liam Hicks will all be making their postseason debuts, something nobody on the Yankees’ roster will be doing.