Yankees vs. Rays ALDS blog: Tampa Bay ends the Yanks' season

Yankees swept by Rays in ALDS

Longtime Yankee Brett Gardner, toward the end of his career, unknowingly in 2018 delivered what would become an epitaph for the Aaron Boone Era Yankees.

“This is the time of year,” Gardner said after a four-game loss to the Red Sox in the 2018 ALDS, “when good teams get sent home and great teams move on.”

That was Boone’s first season as Yankees manager.

It has been the same each successive season the Yankees have made the playoffs under Boone — good during the regular season and, at times, better than that in October.

But never good enough.

And never great.

So it was again on a crisp Wednesday October night at the Stadium as the Yankees, though twice battling back from one-run deficits against the AL East champion Rays, were swept out of the Division Series with a 4-3 loss in front of a loud but ultimately disappointed sellout crowd of 48,865.

For more on the Yankees' final game of the season, check out Erik Boland's full game story.

Stanton pinch hits with two outs in the 8th and . . . strikes out swinging

Aaron Boone pinch-hit Giancarlo Stanton for Austin Wells in the bottom of the eighth with a man on first and a lefthander on the mound. But Rays manager Kevin Cash countered with righty Kevin Kelly, who got Stanton to strike out swinging on five pitches to end the threat. The Rays headed to the 9th leading, 4-3.

Volpe's tying two-run HR changed to an RBI double after fan interference

Anthony Volpe's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning was overturned and changed to a double after replay determined that a fan reached over the wall. The call was determined to be a double that drove in George Lombard Jr. from first base to bring the Yankees within 4-3.

Victor Mesa Jr. takes Max Fried deep and knocks Max Fried out

Following a two-out single by the Rays' Junior Caminero, Victor Meda Jr. launched a hanging curveball from Max Fried into the leftfield seats for a two-run home run to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead in the sixth.

Rays' Vilade sends one into the short porch in right off Fried

Ryan Vilade lifted a high fly ball into rightfield that landing just over the glove of a leaping Spencer Jones in rightfield for a solo home run to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Rice comes through again for Yanks

Ben Rice lined a two-out single into the rightfield to drive in Spencer Jones in the bottom of the third to tie the score at 1-1.

Cashman talks Judge: 'He's just not ready'

Though Aaron Boone said the Yankees were “very close” to activating Aaron Judge for this series, GM Brian Cashman didn’t make it sound that way.

“He’s just not ready. Physically wasn’t in position to. He wasn’t a choice,” Cashman told a small group of reporters before Wednesday’s game.

Judge, placed on the injured list Sept. 19 with a right calf strain, took batting practice on the field with his teammates before the start of the series, but that was all.

Cashman said Judge being unable to run the bases was “one of many things” that kept him from being activated.

Calf strains are typically announced as either being a Grade 1, 2 or 3, with 3 being the most severe. The most the Yankees, always extra secretive when discussing any injury to Judge, did not give a grade for Judge’s calf strain, with Boone previously characterizing it as “moderate.”

“The grade that he suffered, pretty impossible for him to be available to us this series, especially in the previous one, too,” Cashman said. “Ultimately, he just wasn’t a choice. As much as his heart wants [to play], I think he understands, too.”

Newsday's David Lennon contributed to this blog post

Boone running out of time to change his legacy as Yankees' manager

Aaron Boone’s Yankees found themselves in the same all-too-familiar position Wednesday afternoon before Game 3 of the Division Series.

On the brink of playoff elimination.

It’s been the hallmark of this manager’s Bronx tenure. Always playing in October, but never long enough to claim the only prize that matters for this storied franchise: a 28th championship.

Eight years, seven playoff trips, one World Series appearance, zero titles.

No manager worth his pinstripes has held the job as long as Boone without cradling the Commissioner’s Trophy. He ranks seventh on the Yankees’ all-time list with 1,355 games on his resume, and next is Billy Martin, who has only 941 -- but managed the ’77 champs.

Even Joe Girardi delivered a World Series ring, but eventually was replaced by Boone despite piloting the ’17 Yankees to a surprise ALCS appearance, where they were upended by the cheating Astros in seven games.

Boone has another year left on his current deal. But if the Yankees bow out in ALDS, for a second straight October to a division rival, does he deserve another chance in 2027? That depends on who you’re asking.

For more on Boone and the Yankees, check out David Lennon's full column.

Yanks could ask Bednar, Blackburn to go multiple innings in Game 3

If the Yankees have a lead late in Game 3, it’s almost a sure bet that David Bednar will be called on to close out a victory. Just how much they want from him in order to extend their season is anybody’s guess.

Already in this postseason, we have seen some unusual closer situations. Grant Taylor of the White Sox got seven outs to finish a game against Houston in their AL Wild Card Series, 12 outs to save Game 1 of Chicago’s division series against Cleveland and four to save Game 2 versus the Guardians. The Padres used starter Michael King to get the last six outs against the Brewers in Game 3 of their NL Division Series on Tuesday night.

Bednar has shown himself to be up to an increased workload this season with 12 appearances recording more than three outs. In them, he was 4-0 and converted six of eight save opportunities.

Bednar is 7-3 with 35 saves in 39 opportunities this season.

During Tuesday’s off day, pitching coach Matt Blake was asked about closers taking on heavier workloads than the typical three-out save and about what Bednar might be asked to do.

“Obviously we were targeting about four, but I think we'd be comfortable to go a little bit further if needed,” he replied. “[It] comes down to probably the pitch count, probably keeping it under 40. . . but I do think we've talked anywhere from four to six if needed.”

Blake said that set-up man Paul Blackburn could also be asked to get more than three outs to “shorten the game,” but Bednar will close.

Can Jose Caballero provide a spark the Yankees desperately need?

If one has been looking for a potential X-factor for the Yankees in Wednesday night’s Game 3 of their American league Division Series against Tampa Bay, you might want to keep an eye on Jose Caballero.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to start Caballero at third base over Ryan McMahon with an eye toward getting a spark for the team as it faced elimination. Caballero, who the Yankees acquired from the Rays before the 2025 trade deadline, savors every opportunity he gets, but going against his former team would add something special for a player who always has a chip on his shoulder.

Caballero has said that going against Tampa Bay gives him a chance to prove something. He has appeared in 15 games against the Rays since the deal and has four home runs and four stolen bases.

More importantly, the athletic utilityman has proven to be a constant irritant to opponents with his speed on the bases and disruptive engagements of pitchers from the batter’s box.

“Definitely a winning player and presents a lot of challenges for us and [I] know that he's going to be excited to go in this environment,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before first pitch.
“[Caballero] can impact the game in so many different ways,” he added. “That's why he's such a good player: defensively, on the bases, the ability to get ahold of one and knock it out of the ballpark, or come up with a clutch base hit the other way.”

Caballero was the team’s starting shortstop at the dawn of the season while Anthony Volpe was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Through May, he led all AL shortstops in defensive runs saved and ranked among the best in outs above average. Ultimately, he started games at every defensive position on the field except first base and catcher.

Asked how Caballero might impact Game 3, Boone replied, “A lot of ways. Obviously an excellent defender, wherever you put him. The one thing I always say about [Caballero], he plays the game with a ton of confidence. Like there will be a lot of really good players out there playing tonight, Cabby included, and he's as confident as any of them.

“I know one thing: he'll walk out there with a lot of confidence tonight. Hopefully that serves him and us well in pushing this to tomorrow.”

Boone discusses why he went with Volpe and Caballero over McMahon and Chisholm

On the eve of his team facing elimination in Wednesday night’s Game 3 at the Stadium, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees were pondering changes to a lineup that produced all of two runs and five hits in the first two games at Tropicana Field.

And changes there were when the lineup came out Wednesday afternoon. Even with the Rays throwing righthander Nick Martinez, the lefty-swinging Jazz Chisholm Jr. was replaced at second by the righthanded-hitting Anthony Volpe, and the lefthanded-hitting Ryan McMahon was replaced at third by the righty-swinging Jose Caballero.

“Just felt like I wanted to change a couple things up,” Boone said before Wednesday’s game. “Two guys [Volpe and Caballero] that have been an important part of what we’ve done all year and felt like it was the right thing to do tonight.”

Though Chisholm went 0-for-6 in the first two games and McMahon went 0-for-3 – with both players committing errors in Monday’s first inning – Boone framed the moves more as having to do with wanting Volpe and Caballero to see the field.

Still, Boone acknowledged, kind of, the obvious – the offense’s performance in the first two games played a role.

“Maybe. Maybe,” Boone said, when asked if it was “safe to say” those changes wouldn’t have made had the offense been more productive. “But, again, those are two guys that have played a big role for us this year and [I] have a lot of confidence in what they can bring to the table.”

Swapping their second baseman and third baseman were not the only changes for Wednesday.

Centerfielder Trent Grisham, who batted seventh in the first two game and went a combined 0-for-6, was at leadoff for Game 3 rather than Ben Rice.

Rice, along with Austin Wells, were the only Yankees hitters to produce in Games 1 and 2, combining to go 4-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and two walks. Rice, who homered twice in Game 2, was in the second spot in the order on Wednesday night.

“Just trying to find where we can get someone on base, especially in front of Benny as well as he’s playing right now,” Boone said of moving Grisham to leadoff. “Just trying to maximize that as much as I can.”

Those not named Rice and Wells went 1-for-46 in the first two games, and hitters No. 3 through 7 in the order went 0-for-33.

Carlos Rodon: 'I'm ready. I've been ready the whole time.'

First he had to be ready to pitch relief against the Red Sox. Then he needed to prepare to come out of the bullpen at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field. Now he is determined to save the Yankees’ season – if he gets the chance.

It’s been an odd postseason to say the least for Yankees starter Carlos Rodon, who has been slated to pitch a Game 4 against the Rays on Thursday at the Stadium if they can stave off elimination on Wednesday night.

“I'm ready,” Rodon said Wednesday before Game 3. “I've been ready the whole time.”

The lefthander turned in his best performance of 2026 when he faced the Rays in his last regular-season start. Rodon fired eight scoreless innings at Tampa Bay, allowing just three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts. It put him in the conversation to start Wednesday night before Aaron Boone and his staff agreed to go with Max Fried.

“I'd love to be playing at any point throughout the whole playoffs, but my job right now is to be ready . . . assume there's a Game 4 and hope for a win today. I mean we all want to win today . . . and our team is good enough. I believe in our team.”

Asked to describe the team’s state of mind upon arriving at the Stadium, Rodon replied, “Just go out there and win. Keep it simple. That's kind of where our head is at, go out there and win and give it a chance.”

Rodon made six postseason starts for the Yankees in 2024 and 2025, going 1-2 with a 6.72 ERA.

After going 16-9 in 2024 over 32 regular-season starts, he got the ball four times in the Yankees’ run to the World Series and was 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA. In the World Series he gave up three home runs to the Dodgers in a 4-2 loss in Game 2.

After going 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts during 2025, he pitched two playoff games, faring well in the wild-card series against the Red Sox and getting shelled for six runs while recording only seven outs against Toronto in the AL Division Series.

He had offseason elbow surgery and didn’t return until this past May, and went 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 16 starts. He was especially sharp in four September outings, going 3-0 and pitching 25 1/3 innings to a 1.42 ERA.

“I was just prepared (for) the wild card, prepared for whatever was coming my way,” Rodon said. “When I do get my name called, I'll be ready.”

ALDS Game 3 lineups: Volpe and Caballero in

YANKEES LINEUP

1. Trent Grisham, CF
2. Ben Rice, DH
3. Luis Garcia Jr., 1B
4. Cody Bellinger, LF
5. George Lombard Jr.m SS
6. Austin Wells, C
7. Anthony Volpe, 2B
8. Spencer Jones, RF
9. Jose Caballero, 3B

SP: Max Fried

RAYS LINEUP

1. Yandy Díaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Victor Mesa Jr., LF
5. Ryan Vilade, RF
6. Liam Hicks, C
7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS

SP: Nick Martinez

Playing the hits, or lack thereof

The Yankees' defense has appropriately received much attention the last couple of days after melting down to the tune of four errors (three in the first inning) in Monday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

But Yankee bats, so potent in a two-game sweep of the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, have been just as much a culprit.

With the exception of Ben Rice and Austin Wells.

Rice and Wells went a combined 4-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and two walks in the two losses at Tropicana Field. Rice had two of the Yankees' four hits in Game 2, both homers. Everyone else went 1-for-46 in the first two games, and the Nos. 3 through 7 hitters in the Yankees' order went 0-for-33.

"I'm considering a couple things,” manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday’s off-day of pondering some lineup changes for Wednesday night’s Game 3 against Rays righty Nick Martinez. “But I haven't settled on anything. I'll kind of work through that through the day and talk to some of my coaches and make a decision…on which way I want to go.”

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Yankees' Game 3 lineup had not yet been made public. Even with a righty on the mound, among the most likely changes would be the righty-hitting Anthony Volpe in at second for the lefty-swinging Jazz Chisholm Jr.. and Jose Caballero (another righty bat) in at third for the left-handed hitting Ryan McMahon. Chisholm and McMahon each committed errors in Monday’s loss.

A look at the Yankees' recent history in win-or-go-home playoff games

Ben Rice vs. the 10 other Yankees hitters so far

Two games is, of course, way too small of a sample size to draw meaningful analysis from in baseball, but conversely, in a best-of-five series such as the ALDS, that doesn't exactly matter. 

Ben Rice has been the only offense for the Yankees, who trailed the Rays in the ALDS, 2-0, with Game 3 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Here are a few donut charts to help illustrate such:

Ticket prices plummeting for Game 3 of ALDS, get-in cost under $100

With the Yankees on the brink of elimination, ticket prices are sliding.

The get-in price for Wednesday night’s Game 3 of the ALDS between the Yankees and the Rays at the Stadium is $90, according to TickPick as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

As of midnight Monday, the get-in price was $109. As of midnight last Thursday, about an hour after the Yankees punched their ticket to the ALDS with a Wild Card Series sweep of Boston, the get-in price was $132.

The average ticket price for Wednesday’s game is $399, according to TickPick. It was $444 as of midnight Monday.

For Thursday night’s Game 4 – if there is one – the get-in price is $101 and the average ticket cost is $390.

Could Boone make lineup changes for Game 3?

The Yankees defense has received, and appropriately so, much attention the last couple of days after melting down to the tune of four errors, three committed in the first inning, of Monday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.
But Yankee bats, so potent in a two-game sweep of the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, have been just as much a culprit.
With the exception of Ben Rice and Austin Wells.
Rice and Wells went a combined 4-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and two walks the two losses at Tropicana Field, with the former contributing two of the Yankees four hits in Game 2, both of those hits homers. Everyone else went 1-for-46 the first two games. Hitters No. 3 through 7 hitters in the Yankees' order went 0-for-33.
“I'm considering a couple things,” manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday’s off day of pondering some lineup changes for Wednesday night’s Game 3 against Rays righty Nick Martinez. “But I haven't settled on anything. I'll kind of work through that through the day and talk to some of my coaches and make a decision…on which way I want to go.”
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Yankees Game 3 lineup had not yet been made public. Even with a righty on the mound, among the most likely changes would be the righty-hitting Anthony Volpe in at second for the lefty-swinging Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jose Caballero, another righty bat, in at third for the left-handed hitting Ryan McMahon. Chisholm and McMahon each committed errors in Monday’s loss.

Fried over Rodon? Boone says it was 'a really close decision'

For all of Max Fried’s playoff experience, the Yankees lefthander will be the starting pitcher with his team facing elimination for the first time when he takes the mound Wednesday against the Rays in Game 3 at the Stadium.

But he clearly seems to have the mindset for it.

“If we don't win, we go home,” Fried said during an Zoom interview on Tuesday. “This is where you leave everything out on the field. There's nothing else to save anything for.
“I understand that the leash is probably going to be pretty small and we have to do whatever we can to win.”

Manager Aaron Boone and his staff had a choice to make between lefthanders Fried and Carlos Rodon for this start. Boone called it “a really close decision.”

When the Yankees played a Sept. 22 doubleheader against Tampa Bay at the Stadium and the Rays needed a single victory to clinch the AL East title, Rodon and Fried were the starters. Rodon pitched eight scoreless innings — his best start of the season — as the Yankees won the first game. Fried allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Rays won the second game.

“Two great options there,” Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said when asked about the decision. “I think just the way it lined up, we wanted to get Max involved in Game 3 and go from there. I wouldn't say there was too much debate about it other than Max has been one of our guys and we want to ride with him here.”

After Fried acknowledged that Boone could use a quick hook on him, he was asked about whether that will change his approach in facing Tampa Bay.

Fried said: “There is no feeling the game out. You just have to be on the attack and you know that they're. . . on the attack as well. So you just kind of have to meet it.”

Will Yanks put Volpe or Caballero in starting lineup for Game 3?

Thus far in the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Rays, most of the enduring images have been the Yankees miscues in the field during Monday’s 5-2 loss in Game 2 at Tropicana Field.

There’s no denying, however, that their offense has been almost as bad in the two losses that turned Wednesday’s Game 3 at the Stadium into an elimination game.

The Yankees have totaled two runs — both Ben Rice solo home runs — and five hits. Their batting average is .086 and their on-base percentage an equally anemic .145.

One lingering question is whether manager Aaron Boone might make changes to the lineup with his teams’ collective back to the wall. Asked about the possibility during a Zoom interview Tuesday, he replied, “I'm considering a couple things, but I haven't settled on anything. I'll kind of work through that through the day and talk to some of my coaches and make a decision hopefully [Tuesday night] on which way I want to go.”

The Yankees faced a pair of righthanded starters at the Trop and went with their standard lefty-heavy lineup where shortstop George Lombard Jr. is the only righthanded hitter. Tampa is throwing a third righthander in Nick Martinez for Game 3.

Two players who could be in play are Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe.

The starting lineup the Yankees used in the first two games is also supposed to be their best defensive lineup. They are using lefthander Max Fried, and defense is usually a priority when he pitches because he gets a lot of soft contact and groundballs.

So how much defense might Boone be willing to give up to get an offensive spark?

Caballero does offer a spark because he gets under opponents skin and is always a threat to steal a base. He could an option to start at third base over Ryan McMahon. Boone said he’d considered playing Volpe over McMahon in Game 2, but eschewed the move because Volpe has barely played the position.

Could Volpe get the nod over Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base?

That could be a tougher call, even though Chisholm is coming off a poor defensive performance in Game 2. Chisholm has a .742 OPS at the Stadium with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 69 games at the Stadium this season. Volpe has just a .641 OPS with one home run and 11 RBI in 30 games in the Bronx this season.

It's up to Max Fried to save the Yankees' season now

Yanks drop Game 2 after sloppy effort in field

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Along with their gloves, Yankees defenders seemingly armed themselves with seltzer bottles, cream pies, rubber chickens and red floppy shoes as they took the field Monday night.

In a defensive performance that can only be characterized as clownish — certainly, about the furthest thing from big-league caliber — the Yankees committed a remarkable four errors, three of them in the first inning.

The slapstick defense helped undermine a not-as-sharp Cam Schlittler and sent the Yankees, bats again relatively quiet, to a 5-2 loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series in front of another ear-splitting sellout crowd of 40,226 at Tropicana Field that suddenly has their season on the brink.

The Yankees, trailing two-games-to-none in the best-of-five series, will try to keep their season alive in Wednesday night in Game 3 at the Stadium.

They’ll send Max Fried to the mound to try to stave off the kind of early-October exit that has become an all-too familiar part of Aaron Boone’s nine-year managerial tenure.

Read more on the Yankees' Game 2 loss here.

Schlittler wasn't a savior, but it wasn't all his fault

Sending out Cam Schlittler was as close to a sure thing as there was for the Yankees this season. In Monday night’s pivotal Game 2 of the Division Series. But even Schlittler couldn’t do it all by himself, and the mound has never been a lonelier place than it was for him at Tropicana Field.

With the Yankees self-destructing defensively all around him, frequently handing the relentless Rays extra outs, Schlittler wound up looking surprisingly mortal. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and four runs -- only two earned -- as the Yankees committed three of their four errors behind him in the 5-2 loss.

Schlittler’s numbers didn’t reflect the dominance that all but guarantees him the AL Cy Young Award for his regular-season brilliance. But what he did Monday night to keep the Yankees afloat in what could’ve been a Titanic-level disaster during the early innings was arguably as impressive as anything he’s done all year.

Read more on Schlittler's start here.

So what exactly happened on that Spencer Jones flyout?

Spencer Jones' first at-bat of ALDS Game 2 officially went down in the boxscore as a flyout to rightfield. But it was a lot more wild than that.

Jones hit a towering shot to centerfield off an 0-1 Freddy Peralta fastball to begin the top of the second, but the ball hit one of the inner catwalk rings. According to the Tropicana Field ground rules, a ball hit off one of the inner catwalk rings is still in play, meaning it can fall in for a hit or be caught for an out. In this case, it was the latter, as rightfielder Victor Mesa Jr., who had come over for backup on the play, was able to call the other Rays outfielder off and make the catch.

The umpires got together to discuss the play and confirmed the ruling, meaning Jones was ruled out.

Rice's second HR of night gets Yanks closer

Rays retake lead in fifth, chase Schlittler

The Rays are back on top in ALDS Game 2.

Jonathan Aranda hit a single to right, reached third on a double into the gap by Junior Caminero and scored on a groundout by Liam Hicks to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Jazz Chisholm charged the slow grounder from second and thought about throwing home but ultimately settled for the out at first.

The Rays tacked on another run on the next batter. George Lombard Jr. mishandled a soft ground ball by Chandler Simpson, allowing Caminero to score and make it 3-1. Aaron Boone came out to pull Schlittler after the play; Schlittler left to boos from Rays fans at Tropicana Field as Brent Headrick came on in relief.

Headrick got Victor Mesa Jr. to strike out swinging. Simpson stole second; the Yankees challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld.

Lombard Jr. then committed the Yankees' fourth error of the game with an errant throw to Luis Garcia Jr. that allowed Jonny DeLuca to reach first and Simpson to reach third. DeLuca stole second, and Richie Palacios hit a single to center to score both of them and make it 5-1 with two outs.

Taylor Walls flew out to center to end the inning, but the damage had already been done.

Yanks tie it up in fourth on Rice's HR

The Yankees have scored their first run of the ALDS, thanks to the bat of Ben Rice.

Rice hit a 2-2 changeup from Freddy Peralta 372 feet into the rightfield seats to tie up Game 2 at 1-1 to lead off the top of the fourth inning. It was the Yankees' first hit of the game; it was nine up, nine down for Peralta in the first three innings.

Rays strike quickly thanks to Yankees' errors

This wasn't the start to Game 2 that Cam Schlittler and the Yankees envisioned.

After Freddy Peralta retired the top of the Yankees' order on just eight pitches in the top of the first, the Rays capitalized on three Yankees errors to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon booted a ground ball by Yandy Diaz on Schlittler's second pitch, then Jonathan Aranda singled to left. Junior Caminero then hit a grounder to George Lombard, who dove and flipped the ball to Chisholm to get Aranda out at second, but Chisholm's throw sailed way wide of first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., allowing Diaz to come around and score. 

Austin Wells was then called for catcher interference upon replay review, allowing Liam Hicks to reach first. Hicks was out at second on a ground ball hit by Chandler Simpson, but another poor throw from Chisholm allowed Simpson to reach first safely with Caminero reaching third. Schlittler got Victor Mesa Jr. to ground out to second to escape the inning.

Jones, Lombard continue to impress

Eight-year veteran Trent Grisham, who started in centerfield Monday night and batted seventh, said he continues to be struck with what he’s seen and heard from George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones. Both rookies made their big-league debuts this season, rarely appearing overwhelmed, as many young players are, by their first taste of the majors.

“I think they've handled themselves well getting called up here,” Grisham said. “This is a huge market and a lot of tough questions get asked, a lot of tough jobs are asked of those guys, especially when they're younger. For them to come up and have a veteran presence about them, while at the same time asking a bunch of thought-out and smart questions to kind of help them along the way and using the guys around them to help the transition, I've been very impressed with both of them.”

Yankees-Rays Game 2 lineups

YANKEES

1. Ben Rice, DH
2. Cody Bellinger, LF
3. Luis Garcia Jr., 1B
4. Spencer Jones, RF
5. George Lombard Jr., SS
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
7. Trent Grisham, CF
8. Austin Wells, C
9. Ryan McMahon, 3B

SP: Cam Schlittler, RHP

RAYS

1. Yandy Diaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Liam Hicks, C
5. Chandler Simpson, LF
6. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS

SP: Freddy Peralta, RHP

Feeling at home at the Trop

When the Yankees play games at Tropicana Field, the crowd, while not entirely on their side, generally has been about a 50-50 split.

Not that the influx of Yankees fans provides too much of an attendance boost: Yankees-Rays games over the years here typically draw in the 15,000-20,000 range.

With the Rays doing something rare for this series – opening up the thousands of tarped-over seats in the upper deck, because there’s never really been a threat of those seats being sold – it was anticipated, from both sides, that Yankees fans may well outnumber those cheering for the Rays.

That decidedly was not the case in Game 1 when 40,542 packed the Trop, the largest crowd here since Game 5 of the ALDS in 2010, according to MLB.com

“Sometimes in this building, it can be kind of 50-50 and you hear a lot from the other side,” said Rays closer Bryan Baker, who grew up in Florida and attended Rays games in this building as a kid. “But, yeah, I heard a lot of Rays love, which is great to play in front of, and I think we embrace that. Seeing that top level being filled out and how good of a game it was, honestly, too. Just being in that environment, yeah, it's . . . if you can't play in that environment, I don't know, man. That's what it's all about. It's pretty special.”

Kevin Cash, who played eight years in the majors and is the longest-tenured manager in the big leagues having managed the Rays since 2015, said of Game 1: “That's the best crowd noise I've ever witnessed in any ballpark.”

Shortstop Taylor Walls, a Ray since 2021, characterized the crowd to reporters in the Rays clubhouse after Game 1 as, “absolutely electric.”

“I've never seen this place like that,” said Walls said. “Usually when the Yankees come here, even if it's a weekend series, it's really hard to tell what side's winning as far as the attendance goes. Tonight it felt like Rays fans were there.”

Carlos Rodon waiting and ready to go

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – No Yankees pitcher in their standout rotation – except for Cam Schlittler – pitched better than Carlos Rodon down the stretch of the regular season.

And a week into the Yankees’ postseason run, the lefthander, as of the start of Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday night, is the lone rotation member yet to appear in a game.

It is nothing personal.

Schlittler naturally got the start in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox and Max Fried, dominant against Boston throughout his career, appropriately got the nod in Game 2.

There was serious behind-the-scenes debate organizationally before Game 1 of the ALDS of starting Rodon, 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his final seven starts, over Gerrit Cole, who went 4-3 with a 4.46 ERA in his last seven starts (allowing 11 homers in 40 1/3 innings).

Cole ultimately got the start and the move hardly backfired as the righthander allowed just one run, on a Jonathan Aranda homer, in a 1-0 loss in which the Yankees were handcuffed by Rays righty Drew Rasmussen.

The Yankees as of Monday afternoon had not announced their intentions for Wednesday’s Game 3 at the Stadium. They all but certainly will start Fried.

And that would leave Rodon, whose last outing came on Sept. 22, to start Game 4, if a Game 4 is necessary.

Waiting so long between starts is never ideal for any starter. In a routine-oriented sport, starting pitchers might just be the most routine-oriented of all. But Rodon is OK with that. Even in acknowledging his desire to be on the mound this time of year.

“Listen, Gerrit Cole’s one of the greatest pitchers we’ve had in this sport in a long while,” Rodon told Newsday on the eve of Game 1. “Obviously, I’m confident in my ability, but we all know who Gerrit Cole is. I’m glad he’s taking the ball in Game 1, as he should…granted, I would love to be that position, but it’s my job to be a good teammate and pull for him and I want him to be successful.”

Rodon then spoke of the difficult rotation calls faced by Aaron Boone and the organization given the season-long excellence of the group.

“You know, Boonie’s got a tough decision,” Rodon said. “There’s four of us that are really good, and he’s got to figure out how to use all of us, and that’s hard. It’s hard.”

As for the long layoff, Rodon said there’s “no excuse” for whenever he’s next on a big-league mound.

“Whenever my name’s called to go pitch, I want to be crisp, I want to be ready,” he said. “These are big games. These are games I have to perform, all of us have to perform. Just trying to stay ready throughout the weeks and just be ready. That’s it.”

Yankees vs. Freddy Peralta

Presumably, included in the Rays' pitching plan for Game 2 of the ALDS is to make sure Freddy Peralta and everyone else knows when Cody Bellinger is at the plate. The Yankees' lefty is 6-for-14 (.429) with a home run and a double against Peralta for his career. 

Bellinger has by far had the most success against Peralta, with Paul Goldschmidt next up at 9-for-35 (.257), including five doubles and two home runs.

Here's how those on the Yankees' ALDS roster have fared in their careers against Peralta:

Cam Schlittler vs. the Tampa Bay Rays

The Yankees will send Cam Schlittler to the mound in ALDS Game 2 as they to try to even series with Rays. Here's a look at how Schlittler has done against the batters the Rays can send to the plate against him.

The players on the Rays' ALDS roster are 20-for-82 against Schlittler for a .244 batting average. (Overall, the Rays are 22-for-102 and a .216 average in Schlittler's two seasons in the bigs.)

Hear the radio calls of Wells making the third out at third

'You're here to hit doubles . . . not triples'

What was Austin Wells thinking? Here's Jimmy Rollins talking with Pedro Martinez on the TNT Sports postgame after Wells was nailed at third base in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the ALDS:

“You have to understand, ‘I am here to hit doubles.’ Austin, you’re here to hit doubles, you’re here to hit home runs, not triples. Unless the ball absolutely gets stuck in the corner, that rightfielder now has to run an extra 10 feet to pick it up. They’re not even thinking about trying to throw you out at third. In that situation, the ball tells you when to stop. The ball should have stopped him. The ball came off the fence, came back out into play relatively quick. As Pedro said, you hit it hard, you have no chance. I just can’t reiterate the fact [enough] that there was no chance on any planet that he was going to be safe at third.”

Yankees have no hits through six innings against Rays' Drew Rasmussen

Drew Rasmussen is cruising right now for the Rays and the Yankees don't have an answer.

Rays strike first vs. Yanks, Cole

Jonathan Aranda took Gerrit Cole deep in the bottom of the third inning to give the Rays a 1-0 lead over the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez pick Yankees to win it all

On the Fox pregame show before the Atlanta-Dodgers game on Saturday, Derek Jeter picked the Yankees to win the World Series over the Padres and Alex Rodriguez picked the Yankees to win the World Series over the Dodgers.
 

How will the Yankees handle Judge's absence?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s not that the Yankees’ mentality without Aaron Judge is something along the lines of “No Judge, no problem.”

But it is their reality.

It was their reality in the American League Wild Card Series when they outscored the Red Sox, 18-2, in a two-game sweep, and it is again their reality for the ALDS against the Rays.

“To be honest, I think our team's preparation is the same regardless,” rookie outfielder Spencer Jones said Saturday afternoon, a few hours before first pitch of Game 1 at Tropicana Field. “It would be a blessing to have Aaron. But at the same time, there's jobs ahead that we've got to, or games ahead that we've got to win, with or without him. I think we're set up, in a way, in a good position, to win with the guys we've got.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash, who on Friday said his team was preparing as if Judge would make the ALDS roster, said on Saturday he felt a twinge of disappointment with the three-time AL MVP not on it.

Not in his role as opposing team manager, of course, but as a fan of the sport.

“My reaction? Look, there was a lot of conversation about it,” Cash said. “I totally respect Aaron Judge and what he means to that team. But I also respect that Major League Baseball needs to see its best players playing on a stage like this. So (there’s) certain disappointment (in) that. But knowing that he's not lurking on the bench or coming around hitting second or third is probably a benefit.”

The Yankees, unlike in past seasons when Judge has missed a significant chunk of time, did reasonably well without the three-time AL MVP. The Yankees went 52-43 in games without Judge during the regular season.

Jones said even when not in the lineup, Judge has an impact on the club.

“He's incredible off the field. He keeps everybody level-headed in the moment,” Jones said. “He's got good things to say about everybody, and he just wants to be part of it and wants us to enjoy it as much as possible. He's been an extremely positive force in the dugout, in the clubhouse, just keeping the guys together and making sure we're focused on the main goal.”

Rays manager and former Yankee Kevin Cash has fond memories of 2009

Rays manager Kevin Cash played eight years in the big leagues from 2002-10, a journeyman catcher who bounced between five different clubs in his career.

One of them was the 2009 Yankees.

And while Cash, whose 12 seasons managing the Rays make him the longest-tenured manager in the majors, appeared in just 10 big-leagues games with the ’09 Yankees, the experience has always stuck with him.

The 2009 Yankees, of course, won the franchise’s last World Series, its roster stocked with big names – from Derek Jeter to Mariano Rivera to Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon…and more.

“What I took (from it) was great appreciation for the franchise,” Cash said on the eve of Game 1 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field. “And then, you know, how cool was it to be the 25th player on the roster, and get to sit in the dugout, sit in the clubhouse, rub elbows with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Yankee legends, baseball legends. You take a lot from that. Alex Rodriguez, just a remarkable team. You understand why they won the World Series.”

No Aaron Judge for ALDS vs. Rays

It's official.

The Yankees released their roster for the ALDS a short time ago and captain Aaron Judge (right calf strain) is not on it. 

The Yankees swept the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series without Judge, but the Rays won the AL East and had the best record in the AL during the regular season.

David Lennon made the case that Judge should be on the ALDS roster under certain conditions, such as a pinch-hitter when needed.

Giancarlo Stanton, a somewhat surprising addition to the wild-card round roster, surprising in that the DH has not played in a game since April 24, is again on the 26-man roster for this round.

Game 1 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Rays is later today in Tampa.

Yanks chose to go with Gerrit Cole over Carlos Rodon

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One measure of just how good the Yankees' rotation has been this season (and now two games into the postseason) is this oddity:

By choosing to go with Gerrit Cole in American League Division Series Game 1 against the Rays on Saturday night, the Yankees actually left themselves open to second-guessing.

Not all that much, but some.

It was not a surprising announcement and one, considering Cole’s resume, that was somewhat expected.

It was one thing to tell Cole, the ace of pretty much every rotation he’s been a part of, that Cam Schlittler would start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.

For more on Cole and the Yankees, check out Erik Boland's full story.

Yanks should put Judge on ALDS roster . . . but with some conditions

Aaron Judge should be on the Yankees’ roster for the Division Series.

But only under certain conditions, and this would seem the likeliest scenario: Judge is restricted to pinch-hitting duties for Games 1 and 2 at Tropicana Field, in order to minimize his exposure to the dome’s artificial turf, with the outside possibility of him trying to play his familiar rightfield spot when the series returns to the Bronx for Game 3.

Even that’s a stretch. Carrying a player with such limited mobility is a gamble for a short series, especially one at high risk of being re-injured again, but Giancarlo Stanton could be swapped out to make room. Given Judge’s recovery period from the right calf strain he suffered back on Sept. 16, that’s just short of three weeks, the minimum amount of time required for an athlete to return from the least severe grade.

If we’re to believe manager Aaron Boone, who described Judge’s strain as “moderate” a week ago, this injury is more serious. Of course, Judge took exception with Boone’s characterization, and no one else in the organization wants to step into the crosshairs of the Yankees’ captain, so pinning down his medical status remains elusive.

For more on Judge and the Yankees, check out David Lennon's full column.

Boone on Judge playing in the ALDS: 'We'll see."

Aaron Boone was asked Friday if Aaron Judge would be on the ALDS roster, which is due to the league office on Saturday. Here's what he said:

Rays preparing to face Aaron Judge in ALDS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rays manager Kevin Cash is fully anticipating Aaron Judge being a part of this ALDS.

Cash was asked Friday afternoon if his team’s preparation is impacted by Judge being questionable for the series, or are the Rays preparing as if the three-time AL MVP will be in the lineup?

“The latter,” Cash said with a smile. “I think it's probably better. I was thinking that Aaron Judge was going to be there a week ago just so I'm not devastated when he's on. I expect him playing right field, hitting third.”

The Rays' Game 1 starter, Drew Rasmussen, gave a similar answer.

“I've done my deep dive on Aaron Judge,” Rasmussen, smiling just as Cash did, said. “I think we make the assumption he's in there until he's not.”

Judge, placed on the IL Sept. 19 with a right calf strain, did not play in the Yankees' two-game sweep of the Red Sox in the wild-card round. He remains questionable for this series and the answer to whether or not he will play in it likely won't come until late Saturday morning, the deadline for both clubs to submit their official 26-man rosters to MLB for the series.

Who's on the call for the ALDS on TBS?

The Yankees-Rays ALDS wir air on TBS and stream on HBO Max.

Brian Anderson will handle the play-by-play and Jeff Francoeur will be the analyst. Lauren Shehadi will be the reporter.

The studio team for TNT Sports, now in its 20th season covering MLB's postseason, includes host Adam Lefkoe alongside Pedro Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Curtis Granderson.

Cole over Rodon in Game 1?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Yankees seriously considered giving Max Fried the ball in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox but, ultimately, decided to go with Cam Schlittler, who is all but certain to win the AL Cy Young.

That decision, which obviously paid off, left the Yankees up to zero second guessing.

That isn’t the case with their call for Game 1 of the Division Series. Based on respective resumes, of course, choosing Gerrit Cole to face Yankee-killer Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 is a no-brainer.

But based on how each pitcher finished the regular season?

That’s something else altogether.

The reason why, inside the Yankees organization, there was plenty of debate on having Carlos Rodon start Game 1 instead of Cole.

Rodon, who had two separate stints on the injured list this season, went 7-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 16 starts. The lefthander was particularly good down the stretch, pitching better than anyone in the rotation not named Cam Schlittler, going 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA over his final seven starts. He allowed four homers in 38 innings in that stretch.

Cole, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as good as the regular season drew to a close. The righthander started the year on the IL recovering from Tommy John surgery and went 10-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 22 starts. Over his last seven starts, though, Cole went 4-3 with a 4.46 ERA and allowed 11 homers in 40 1/3 innings in that stretch.

Each pitcher’s most recent start against the Rays reflected those numbers. Facing the Rays on Sept. 22, in the first game of a doubleheader and the Yankees' slim division hopes alive, Rodon had maybe the best outing of his season in a 2-0 victory, allowing just three hits over a season-high eight innings.

Facing the Rays in a meaningless game a day later – the Rays clinched the division with a win in the second game of the Sept. 22 doubleheader – Cole allowed two runs and three hits, including a homer, over 5 2/3 innings of a 9-2 victory. He walked three and struck out eight in the outing.

Yankees at 'The Trop'

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tropicana Field hasn’t always been a house of horrors for the Yankees.

From 1998, the first year the then-expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays began playing there, through 2011, the Yankees were 68-50 at the Trop.

It was, by far, one of the opposing team venues in which the Yankees had the most success.

But that has not been the case for the last nearly 15 years now.

Whether the Rays have been good – the case the vast majority of time in that stretch – or not so good, the Yankees have struggled at Tropicana Field.

Their record in this domed facility, rarely high on the list of any rival player’s favorite-ballpark list, since 2012 is 47-62. That includes going 2-5 there this season.

The Rays, who won the AL East title and are the top seed in these American League playoffs, weren’t just tough on the Yankees at the Trop this season.

The Rays went 55-26 at Tropicana Field in 2026, tying them with the Brewers for the best home record.

Both clubs will work out here this afternoon in advance of Saturday night’s Game 1. The Rays are slated to work out at 2 p.m., with the Yankees to follow at 4 p.m.

Here's how Gerrit Cole has performed in Game 1s

When Gerrit Cole gets the ball for Game 1 at Tampa Bay on Saturday, it will be the seventh time he takes the mound to start a postseason series (and sixth with the Yankees).

In his previous six career Game 1s, Cole is 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.098 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and six walks in 37 1/3 innings.

In his five previous Game 1s with the Yankees, which excludes a Game 1 loss for Houston in the 2019 World Series, Cole is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.055 WHIP, 37 strikeouts and five walks in 30 1/3 innings.

Here’s a look at each of Cole’s previous Game 1 starts:

• 2024 World Series at Los Angeles Dodgers (ND): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
• 2024 ALDS vs. Kansas City (ND): 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 SO
• 2022 ALDS vs. Cleveland (W): 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
• 2020 ALDS vs. Tampa Bay in San Diego (W): 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO
• 2020 AL Wild Card Series at Cleveland (W): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO
• 2019 World Series (with Houston) vs. Washington (L): 7 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

The Yankees announce their ALDS Game 1 starter

Gerrit Cole gets the start for Game 1 for the Yankees. He'll go against Tampa's Drew Rasmussen.

Nicely done, @Raysbaseball

Yankees vs. Rays ALDS schedule

The ALDS between the Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays begins on Saturday, with all games airing on TBS and streaming on HBO Max.

Here’s the schedule so far:

Game 1: Yankees at Rays, Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m

Game 2: Yankees at Rays, Monday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.

Game 3: Rays at Yankees, Wednesday, Oct. 7, TBD

* Game 4: Rays at Yankees, Thursday, Oct. 8, TBD

* Game 5: Yankees at Rays, Saturday, Oct. 10, TBD

* if necessary

Tale of the Tape: What to expect between the Yankees and Rays

 The Yankees completed a sweep of Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium and now advance to meet AL East division champion Tampa Bay in the AL Division Series. The series opens on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

The Rays won the 13-game season series 7-6 and finished with 98 victories. The statistical comparison of the teams in head-to-head play is about as close as the series.

We offer the tale of the tape between the Yankees and Rays: