The New York Yankees are moving on to the American League Division Series after sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. The Yankees won both games, 9-0 and 9-2, and got strong performances from both their pitching and offense. Cody Bellinger had a big Game 2, including a three-run home run, while Luis García Jr. also hit a home run. After finishing off Boston, the Yankees now turn their attention to another American League East rival, the Tampa Bay Rays.
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The Rays had a successful regular season as well, winning the American League East and earning a first-round bye. Tampa Bay finished the regular season with a strong home record at Tropicana Field, where Game 1 will be played. The Rays and Yankees are familiar with each other from playing in the same division, but this will be a different kind of matchup with a spot in the American League Championship Series on the line.
Yankees vs. Rays Game 1- Starting Lineups & Pitching Matchup
Game 1 is Saturday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees, and Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays. Cole finished the regular season with a 10-9 record, a 3.61 ERA and 131 strikeouts. Rasmussen had a 16-5 record, a 2.67 ERA and 174 strikeouts. He has also had a lot of success against the Yankees, so he will be someone to watch closely in this first game.
There are several players I will be keeping an eye on during Game 1. Ben Rice has been one of the Yankees’ hottest hitters recently, and Cody Bellinger had a big game in the Wild Card Series. Austin Wells has also been producing lately. For Tampa Bay, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz are two important players in the lineup. Rookie outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. also had a very strong September and could be an interesting player to watch during the series.
The Yankees will start the ALDS on the road before the series moves to Yankee Stadium. For fans, Game 1 is the beginning of another postseason series and a chance to see how the Yankees match up against a familiar division opponent.
