Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the Yankees’ American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen is set to start for Tampa Bay.
When and where is Yankees vs. Rays Game 1?
The opener is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. MLB’s October 2 preview lists a 6:30 p.m. ET start. Because the game is imminent, check the league or teams’ latest schedule listing for any change.
MLB lists TBS, truTV and HBO Max for coverage in the United States, with UniMas carrying the Spanish-language television broadcast and ESPN Radio providing national radio coverage. Availability can vary by provider and location.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Yankees: Gerrit Cole
New York announced Cole as its Game 1 starter after sweeping Boston in the Wild Card Series. He had been lined up to pitch Game 3 against Boston, but the two-game sweep meant that start was not needed. Manager Aaron Boone said Cole was then lined up to open the ALDS.
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For Cole, the assignment marks a return to postseason pitching after Tommy John surgery in March 2025. He made his 2026 season debut on May 22. MLB reported that he went 10-9 with a 3.61 ERA, 131 strikeouts and 127 innings in 22 starts during the 2026 regular season.
This is scheduled to be Cole’s 23rd career postseason appearance, all of them starts, and his first since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. MLB reported a 2.93 ERA across his 12 career playoff starts with the Yankees.
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Rays: Drew Rasmussen
MLB’s preview names right-hander Rasmussen as Tampa Bay’s starter. His 2026 ERA was 2.67. MLB’s October 2 announcement described that figure as seventh-lowest among qualified starting pitchers; its Game 1 preview ranked it fourth among American League pitchers. Those rankings use different stated comparison groups.
Why did the Yankees choose Cole instead of Carlos Rodón?
Rodón was an alternative for Game 1 if Cole had pitched the third Wild Card game. After Cole did not need to make that start, Boone said the choice was easy because Cole was lined up for the opener. MLB also reported that the Yankees considered Rodón for multiple possible games; pitching coach Matt Blake confirmed Rodón had been in contention.
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That account explains the club’s stated decision without establishing that it was based on a particular statistical matchup calculation. MLB reported Rodón lined up for Game 3 or Game 4 at Yankee Stadium, while the Game 1 preview said the Yankees planned to use Cam Schlittler in Game 2. Those are reported plans, not completed starts.
How has Cole pitched against Tampa Bay?
The matchup numbers are encouraging context, but they cover different stretches and should not be treated as interchangeable. MLB reported that Cole allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts against the Rays in 2026. His September 23 start against Tampa Bay was a win in a 9-2 Yankees victory.
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| Sample | Reported results | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Cole’s three 2026 regular-season starts against Tampa Bay | 2.50 ERA, 18 innings, 16 strikeouts and 7 walks | CBS Sports/RotoWire, 2026 season |
| Cole’s last six starts against Tampa Bay | 4-1, 2.09 ERA, 38 2/3 innings | MLB Game 1 preview, reported October 2, 2026 |
| Cole’s career starts against Tampa Bay | 3.33 ERA in 23 starts | MLB, reported in 2026; Tampa Bay is the team he has faced most often by starts |
The Rays’ hitting splits offer another lens, not an explanation MLB gave for selecting Cole. CBS Sports/RotoWire reported Tampa Bay ranked fourth in OPS against right-handed pitching and 25th against left-handers in 2026. Cole is a right-hander; the split is a team-level comparison, not a prediction of the opener’s result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Cole and Rasmussen said about the matchup
Cole called the return to postseason play “incredibly special.” He added, “Considering coming back from surgery, there’s not much more I could ask for. I feel tremendously blessed.” On his preparation, he said, “I do feel, to a certain extent, I’ve been pitching all year,” and said he had opportunities to settle into the season and routine so that nothing new was approaching him.
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Boone described Cole’s place in the rotation this way: “It was an easy [decision] for me once Gerrit didn’t pitch in that Wild Card,” adding, “He was lined up here. We like him here. We like him, obviously, kicking off the series for us. I’m excited to give him the ball.”
Rasmussen characterized games against New York as “a tight game — it’s a dogfight,” adding, “I’d say that’s probably what should be expected.” Cole called the Rays “a complete lineup from top to bottom” and said, “When you get to playoff baseball, you just want to be in there as much as possible.”
What the announcement does not tell us
The published reports establish the starter and provide his season and matchup statistics, but they do not state a guaranteed pitch count, how many innings Cole will work, or a health-risk assessment. His return and 2026 results are documented; they do not by themselves establish that he has fully returned to his pre-surgery level.
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