New York Yankees head into Game 2 of the AL Division Series with a clear mission: even the best‑of‑five matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. The club fell behind 1‑0 after Drew Rasmussen shut down a lineup missing Aaron Judge, recording a 1‑0 victory on Saturday night.
Schlittler’s Turn to Shine
Twenty‑five‑year‑old right‑hander Cam Schlittler, who posted a 14‑6 record with an AL‑best 1.95 ERA during the regular season, is slated to start Monday night. Schlittler struck out 239 batters over 193 2/3 innings and delivered a dominant six‑plus‑inning, nine‑run shutout in Game 1 of the Wild Card round against Boston.
“I want to be a Yankee forever,” Schlittler said after the Wild Card win, emphasizing his commitment to the franchise. He added that the young core of the Yankees – Ben Rice, Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. – have embraced their roles and are working hard every day to succeed.
Rays’ Pitching Challenge
Tampa Bay will counter with right‑hander Freddy Peralta, who went 5‑2 with a 3.25 ERA after being acquired from the Mets. Peralta, who struggled in his first New York season, expressed confidence in his new environment, noting that he feels “treated like a king” by the Rays organization.
Peralta credited pitching coach Kyle Snyder for his turnaround, saying the communication and information he received were exactly what he needed.
Series Outlook
If the series extends to a third game, the Yankees could turn to Max Fried or Carlos Rodón. Fried threw six strong innings of three‑hit, one‑run ball in Game 2 against Boston, while Rodón delivered eight scoreless innings with just three hits in his last start against the Rays on Sept. 22.
Rays’ All‑Star right‑hander Nick Martinez (15‑6, 3.10 ERA) is also a likely candidate to start Game 3 for Tampa Bay.
Aaron Judge’s Rehab
Three‑time AL MVP Aaron Judge remains off the postseason roster as he continues to recover from a calf injury that sidelined him since Sept. 16. He resumed running Sunday at the Yankees’ spring‑training facility, George Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge is making progress and hopes to add more live work in the coming days.
Rays’ Bullpen Rested
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised the atmosphere at Tropicana Field, noting the sell‑out crowd of 40,542 created a lively environment that even drowned out Yankees fans. Cash highlighted the bullpen’s freshness, with closer Bryan Baker securing the Game 1 win and the rest of the staff enjoying a week of rest after the team clinched the No. 1 seed and a first‑round bye.
“We’re in a pretty good spot,” Cash said. “Everybody is fresh and ready to contribute.”
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
