The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays meet in a best-of-five American League Division Series starting Saturday, October 3, at Tropicana Field. The Yankees advanced by sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round, while the Rays earned a first-round bye as the American League’s top seed, according to mlb.com and Syracuse.com.
Tropicana Field Hosts Game 1 on Saturday Night
The American League East rivals open their Division Series at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Rays hold the higher seed and will host Games 1, 2, and 5, while Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, as detailed by Syracuse.com. Tickets for games in Tampa are entirely sold out through standard admission, leaving fans to rely on verified resellers such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, and TicketNetwork. Exclusive discounts include $20 off a $200+ ticket order for first-time Vivid Seats customers using code SYRACUSE20, as well as 15% off TicketNetwork orders with code TIXDEAL15. Tickets are available for all five games, with Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, at a time TBD, Game 4 on Thursday, October 8, at a time TBD, and Game 5 on Saturday, October 10, at a time TBD, while Game 2 takes place on Monday, October 5, at 8 p.m.
Yankees Weigh Rotation Options After Wild Card Sweep
Manager Aaron Boone has not officially named his Game 1 starter, though Gerrit Cole is lined up for the assignment after missing his scheduled Thursday start due to the Wild Card sweep, according to mlb.com and Bolavip.com. Cole posted a 1-1 record and a 2.50 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this regular season. New York’s offense enters the series with momentum after scoring 18 combined runs against Boston, aided by a bench-heavy roster strategy that allowed manager Aaron Boone to maximize matchup advantages, as noted by FanGraphs. Following the sweep, shortstop George Lombard Jr. threw out Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran on a ground ball during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Wildcard round at Yankee Stadium, while designated hitter Ben Rice hit a grand slam home run against the Red Sox during the eighth inning of Game 1.
Rays Counter With Rested Pitching Staff Led by Drew Rasmussen
Rasmussen finished the regular season going 16-5 with the American League’s fourth-best ERA at 2.67, alongside a league-best 0.91 WHIP and 5.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News reported that Rasmussen put up a 2.86 ERA and struck out 26 batters in 22 innings across four regular-season starts against New York. Rays manager Kevin Cash has yet to set the remainder of his rotation beyond Game 1, but he can utilize a rested group that includes pitchers who finished the season strong.
Get schedule and pitching details for the series opener
When and where is Game 1 of the Yankees-Rays ALDS?
Game 1 takes place on Saturday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Who are the projected starting pitchers for Game 1?
The Rays are expected to start right-hander Drew Rasmussen, while Yankees manager Aaron Boone has indicated that Gerrit Cole is lined up to start, with left-hander Carlos Rodón also in consideration, as reported by mlb.com and Bolavip.com.
Where are Games 3 and 4 being played?
Games 3 and 4 will be hosted by the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, and Game 4 on Thursday, October 8, according to Syracuse.com.
How can fans purchase tickets for the series?
Standard admission tickets for most games are sold out, but verified resale platforms including StubHub, Vivid Seats, and TicketNetwork list available seats for both Tropicana Field and Yankee Stadium, as detailed by Syracuse.com.
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