ST. PETERSBURG — The New York Yankees open the American League Division Series tonight at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East champions, after besting the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. It is the second straight year New York has drawn the division winner in the ALDS, following last season's matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays, and this time the assignment is a familiar division rival.
The tale of the tape was close. Tampa Bay narrowly won the season series 7-6 after winning the second game of a doubleheader in their four-game series last week. Location tilted the results. The Yankees went 2-5 at Tropicana Field but 4-2 against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay enters as the best home team in the league at 55-26, a mark New York must confront while trying to steal one of the first two games before the series shifts back to the Bronx.
New York will have its ace available for the opener. Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start Game 1 tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen, despite the Yankees having to use two other aces in the Wild Card round. Cam Schlittler is lined up for Game 2 after pitching to a 1.16 ERA on the road this season. The matchup carries history for Cole, whose debut season in New York ended when the Rays beat the Yankees in the 2020 ALDS.
Preview coverage ahead of first pitch includes breakdowns of the Tampa Bay pitchers and hitters to watch and a dedicated Game 1 preview, while the Arizona Fall League gets underway this weekend with Yankees prospects in action and a look back at Dave Winfield's career on his 75th birthday. The series could become a five-game heavyweight bout if New York splits on the road, with the other Division Series matchups set as White Sox-Guardians, Braves-Dodgers and Padres-Brewers framing four burning questions as the 2026 ALDS and NLDS open Saturday.