This is easily the most anticipated series (and most expected?) for the New York Yankees. The two best teams during the regular season were expected to clash to determine American League prominence.
And yes, I agree that this upcoming series says a lot about the broken playoff structure in MLB.
Allow me to step onto my soapbox for a mere moment...
Up we go...
I've never been a fan of the expansion to six teams per league. I understand that it keeps more markets in the playoff picture come September, and it is more revenue for all (likely, the biggest reason for the expansion). Still, all it did was create a scenario where division winners were at a disadvantage, and what we're getting here is the two best teams in the league facing off in a five-game series.
Ultimately, the Tampa Bay Rays, the top seed in the American League, are given the second-best record in their first-round, in a best-of-five?
None of this makes sense.
Stepping off now...
Nonetheless, fellow Yankee fans, we have to go through the Rays, who are proving that spending money in baseball doesn't equate to winning. You can't tell me the Players Association aren't quietly rooting against the Rays in October.
Regardless, this series is exactly what Aaron Boone and Yankee fandom need to exorcise some poor narratives. When they win as of late, it's because they "beat up" on a poor American League (see: 2024). And if they lose, it's because they "aren't built for the postseason" and yada yada yada...you know the stuff.
Here, they get forced into having to play good fundamental baseball against a solid Rays team, and this would be the opportunity to beat a Rays team that is, record-wise, the better team.
Here we go...
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Game 1
Rays d. Yankees, 1-0
(Rays lead series, 1-0)
Welp, this one isn't as complicated as many want to make it feel like.
Rasmussen dominated. And there were plenty of at-bats and innings in there where it felt easy for the Rays' ace. 7+ no-hit innings also tell that story.
It's that simple.
And while the Yankees universe will do what the Yankees universe does in finding something negative to make the entire Yankees postseason existence about, the truth is, they were just one hang em' bang em' pitch away from tying or winning this game.
That's baseball, Suzyn.
Schlittler is that dude, and he'll need to be on Monday night.
Other thoughts:
- The numbers on Rasmussen vs. the Yankees are alarming.
This pitch by Drew Rasmussen is just bonkers 🤯 https://t.co/K5KTzYQcqO
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2026
- Rasmussen was straight-up filthy at times.
- His ability to dominate the top of the strike zone was uber impressive. It takes insane movement and control - again, just nasty, unhittable stuff.
- A worry is that the Rays bullpen, 7th in MLB this season with a 3.99 ERA collectively, didn't get used at all. And in a short series, that buys you just another day and another game to take.
- Gerrit Cole was very good. While it feels like many are ready to relegate Cole from "Ace" lore, I found Cole to have done his job. Maybe another inning of length? But 5 innings, 5H, and 1ER is what you want. His bugaboo of home runs struck when Aranda took him deep. Essentially, that's the game.
- By the way, where do the Rays find these dudes?!
- Spencer Jones looked lost. The swing-and-misses look so much worse when his helmet is falling off.
- Yet, he still didn't look as lost as Trent Grisham did. Yyyyikes!
- Ryan Weathers did a nice job. He really can become a nice weapon out of the pen if they can move along in these playoffs.
- And yes, let's talk Austin Wells. We all collectively had a sigh of relief, then a glimpse of hope, suddenly turning to disbelief when he rounded second, to doubt, to frustration. ALL, in the span of seconds.
- Austin Wells went for his Joe Girardi moment from 1996. Catchers doing triples ain't easy, sir.
- But seriously, getting back to that fundamental narrative discussed earlier, this is it. Never make the third out at third base. Stay at second, in scoring position. Who knows if Rasmussen stays in? Does Baker get the call for 4 outs? Do they use another leverage arm in the pen? Maybe Boone goes to the bench for Stanton in place of McMahon! Who knows?! One thing is for sure: we guaranteed ourselves no shot with that decision.
- Also, that was an amazing relay by Palacios.
- As expected, it was theater for Stanton when he got the call. But what a way to step in after months of no game action - here ya go, my guy. Go take hacks at the best closer in MLB this season!
An odd day off on Sunday - thank you, strange television schedule. Not a must-win on Monday night, but certainly as close to it as it gets.
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