The Tampa Bay Rays are set to welcome the New York Yankees to Tropicana Field for Game 1 of their American League playoff series on Saturday night. This marks only the second postseason meeting between the two clubs; the Rays previously eliminated New York in the 2020 playoffs.
Rays’ pitching advantage
St. Petersburg fans can expect a strong start from right‑hander Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen has not recorded a loss in any start since the All‑Star break, and his most recent outing came in New York, where he carried a no‑hit bid into the seventh inning and struck out 11 batters as the Rays clinched the American League East.
Season performance and home‑field strength
The Rays finished the regular season with a league‑best 98 wins, ranking among the top five in both offense and pitching nationwide. Their dominance at home was especially pronounced, posting a 55‑26 record – the best home record in Major League Baseball.
Game‑day details for fans
Gates will open three hours before the first pitch. Parking is limited to fans who have purchased a prepaid postseason parking pass. The stadium will be buzzing with local supporters eager to see their team continue its strong run.
Yankees’ recent form
The Yankees arrive on the heels of a decisive two‑game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, scoring 18 runs while allowing only two in the best‑of‑three Wild Card series. Their momentum will be tested against a well‑rested Rays squad that has been sharpening its edge through workouts and scrimmages during the brief break after clinching the division.
What’s unknown
New York has not yet announced its opening pitcher, and the status of three‑time American League MVP Aaron Judge remains uncertain. Judge has been sidelined with a right‑calf strain suffered in mid‑September, just seven games after returning from a fractured rib. He has taken live at‑bats this week but has not practiced with the full team; he told reporters Thursday that he is doing everything possible to be cleared for Saturday.
Series schedule
Games 1 and 2 will be played at Tropicana Field on Saturday and Monday. Game 3 is slated for Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. All three contests will be broadcast nationally on TBS, truTV, and Max.
The Rays’ strong home record and Rasmussen’s hot arm give St. Petersburg a solid chance to repeat the 2020 upset and advance further in the postseason. Yankees fans, meanwhile, will be watching closely to see if Judge can return and help New York continue its recent offensive surge.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
