Overview
- Drew Rasmussen is expected to start Game 1 of the ALDS, a development reported on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, that puts Tampa Bay’s staff in the spotlight.
- Rasmussen finished 2026 with a 16-5 record, a 2.67 ERA, a league-leading 0.913 WHIP and a 5.44 K:BB ratio, and he has a 5-2 career record with a 1.81 ERA against the Yankees.
- Manager Kevin Cash has not committed to a fixed rotation order, signaling he will use Freddy Peralta, Nick Martinez, Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour in flexible starter or bulk roles.
- Bryan Baker anchors a veteran Rays bullpen after a 41-save season and a 1.44 ERA, but some peripheral measures suggest his results include unusually favorable batted‑ball luck.
- New York enters the series with lineup uncertainty because Aaron Judge is a calf question and Giancarlo Stanton is limited, which raises the value of limiting opponents early and using matchup pitching.