Thanks to a pair of emphatic victories over the rival Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series, the Yankees punched their ticket to their eight Division Series in the past decade. The parameters of how to get to the ALDS have evolved some since that streak began in 2017 (when they won a memorable
one-game playoff against the Twins), but the Yankees have found their way there more often than not.This will be the Yankees’ third consecutive ALDS trip. In 2024, they had the first-round bye, and
though there were some nervous moments, they ultimately handled the upstart Royals in four games before eventually falling to the Dodgers in the World Series. Last year, they were shunted to the Wild Card Series and had to win twice against Boston before they could face the upstart Blue Jays, who narrowly beat them out for the AL East crown. That put them on the back foot, and most of the team didn’t play particularly well in a four-game loss.
The story for 2026 is quite similar to the one for 2025, as the Yankees were again the preseason favorites for the AL East, only for the surprising Rays to usurp them for the division and force them to fend off the Red Sox to survive the Wild Card round. Well now we’re here, and though the Yankees have to cut through that path to make it back to the Fall Classic, the opportunity is there for the taking.
This is just the second time that the Yankees and Rays have ever squared off in October, with the only other time being an ALDS loss in 2020 that saw all five games played at empty Petco Park in San Diego due to COVID restrictions. Since fans will actually be at these games—including the Yankees’ first official playoff trip to Tropicana Field—this will be a much more representative series.
It seems likely that the planned Game 3 starters for the Wild Card Series, Gerrit Cole, will get the ball in the ALDS opener at the Trop on Saturday against the Rays’ ace, righty Drew Rasmussen. The Yankees’ own No. 1, Cam Schlittler, will be able to come back on normal rest for Game 2. Beyond that? Stay tuned. We’ll have more on this ALDS battle in the coming days, but here’s what we know about the tune-in info as of late on September 30th.
How to watch Yankees vs. Rays in ALDS
Game 1
Date: Saturday, October 3
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. EST
Channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Game 2
Date: Monday, October 5
First Pitch: 8 p.m. EST
Channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Game 3
Date: Wednesday, October 7
First Pitch: not yet announced
Channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Game 4*
Date: Thursday, October 8
First Pitch: not yet announced
Channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Game 5*
Date: Saturday, October 10
First Pitch: not yet announced
Channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
*if necessary
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