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Yankees-Rays ALDS Game 1 FAQ (Sat., 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS/HBO Max)

American League East rivals New York and Tampa Bay are set to collide in the postseason for only the second time in history, beginning with the opening matchup of their division series at Tropicana Field on Saturday evening. While their previous playoff meeting occurred at a neutral site during the 2026 pandemic postseason, this round brings the matchup directly to their home ballparks.

Yankees manager Aaron Judge noted the upcoming challenge of facing a fundamental and grinding opponent, with his club looking ahead to a tough five-game battle. On the mound, New York pitching coach Matt Blake revealed that the team's opening starter will be either Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodon, with Rodon coming off a strong September stretch featuring a stellar 1.42 ERA across four starts.

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