Yankees vs. Rays 2026 ALDS Schedule: How to watch, start times as Yanks announce Game 1 starter

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are set to face off in the postseason for the second time in franchise history. The first was played in front of cardboard cutouts in San Diego. Safe to say this edition will be a little bit different - and will hopefully have a different ending.

Beating the Boston Red Sox and ending their hopes was hilarious, but it's time to leave them in the dust where they belong. The next step on the Yankees' path begins Saturday at The Trop - again, somehow the first time they've ever played a postseason game in that ballyard - and the series schedule comes with an odd little wrinkle that could complicate things.

Yankees vs. Rays 2026 ALDS Schedule: All start times and broadcast details

Yes, that's right, the Yankees and Rays are going March Madness Mode! You can watch on TruTV if you'd like to simulate the experience of desperately scrolling to find Stetson/San Diego State in the middle of a workday.

Additionally, you'll notice there's an odd day off between Games 1 and 2 without a location change. This will allow both teams to bring their Game 1 starters back on full rest in Game 4, if they so choose. For the Yankees, that's going to be ... Gerrit Cole!

Starting Cole in Game 1 very much goes against the by-the-book analytics; the Rays struggle mightily with left-handed pitching and fare just fine against righties. This Tampa Bay team has the fourth-best wRC+ and fifth-best OPS in baseball against right-handed pitching this year, ranking 26th and 25th in the same categories against lefties. This is very much a "you're our guy and you're getting the ball" situation.

But let's not kid ourselves: this is a good problem to have. We're not talking about how best to deploy Deivi Garcia to give the Rays a sneak attack. Cole has the bonafides and shook off two tough starts in San Diego/against the Mets to finish strong, including a solid start against the Rays at the Stadium to finish off the year. The question now is how is Carlos Rodón used? Game 3 or 4 back in New York? Cole can technically come back and face Drew Rasmussen again in the fourth game, if his first start goes well.

The Yankees have a champagne problem here with a rotation packed with top-tier playoff tested arms. The data told them to go with Rodón, as did recent history, but they trust their horse. It's tough to overlook Rodón somewhat in a short series, but something tells us they'll find a way to make him valuable (and piggybacking is overrated and somewhat cute anyway).

Saturday. 6:30. TruTV, if you wanna. Let's get nuts.

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