Yankees, Rays Set ALDS Game 1 Around Cole and Rasmussen as Tampa Weighs 5-Starter Mix
Updated
Updated · MLB.com · Oct 1
Yankees, Rays Set ALDS Game 1 Around Cole and Rasmussen as Tampa Weighs 5-Starter Mix
3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Oct 1
Summary
Game 1 of the best-of-five ALDS is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET in St. Petersburg, with Gerrit Cole lined up for the Yankees and Drew Rasmussen confirmed for Tampa Bay.
Cole enters after the Yankees rode strong pitching past Boston in the Wild Card round, though Aaron Boone still has flexibility after Carlos Rodón prepared for a potential Game 1 and finished the season strongly.
Rasmussen gives the Rays a clear opener after a 16-5 season with a 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a 1.81 career ERA against the Yankees in 11 appearances.
Tampa Bay has not set Games 2 and 3, with Kevin Cash expected to deploy Freddy Peralta, Griffin Jax, Nick Martinez and Ian Seymour aggressively depending on early series leverage.
That uncertainty could shape the series quickly, with Peralta carrying a 0.79 ERA over his last six starts and Martinez posting a better road ERA than home ahead of a possible Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.