Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the 2026 American League Division Series for the New York Yankees against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field, with Drew Rasmussen starting for Tampa Bay. The schedule and broadcast details are from MLB’s October 2 preview and should be checked for any last-minute changes.
Who is starting Game 1 of Yankees–Rays?
The Yankees named Cole as their Game 1 starter. He had been slated to start Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against Boston, but New York swept the series in two games. Manager Aaron Boone said Cole was lined up for the ALDS opener and described the choice as easy once Cole did not pitch against Boston.
Carlos Rodón had been the alternate Game 1 option if Cole had started that third Wild Card game. Boone said the club considered Rodón for several possible games; the reports do not establish that the choice was driven by a statistical matchup calculation.
When and where is Game 1, and how can you watch?
| Detail | Pregame listing |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida |
| U.S. English-language TV and streaming | TBS, truTV and HBO Max |
| Spanish-language TV | UniMas |
| National radio | ESPN Radio |
These are the listings in MLB’s Game 1 preview; because the game is imminent, check the current listing for changes.
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What Cole’s return means—and what it does not prove
Cole is returning to postseason action after Tommy John surgery in March 2025. He made his 2026 season debut on May 22. MLB reported that he finished the regular season 10-9 with a 3.61 ERA, 131 strikeouts and 127 innings over 22 starts. Those figures describe his season; they do not establish a guaranteed workload for Game 1 or prove that he has fully returned to his previous level.
This is his 23rd career postseason appearance, all as a starter, 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. Cole called the opportunity special, saying, “Considering coming back from surgery, there’s not much more I could ask for. I feel tremendously blessed.”
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How the starting-pitcher matchup looks
Cole against Tampa Bay
In 2026 regular-season games against the Rays, MLB reported that Cole allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts. He won his September 23 start in a 9-2 Yankees victory. CBS Sports/RotoWire reported his three-start total against Tampa Bay as 18 innings, a 2.50 ERA and a 16-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Those three starts are a small, season-specific sample. A separate MLB figure covers Cole’s last six starts against Tampa Bay: 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA over 38 2/3 innings. Across his career, MLB reported a 3.33 ERA in 23 starts against the Rays—the most starts he has made against any one team. These windows should be read separately, not combined.
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Rasmussen and the Rays’ offense
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen is Tampa Bay’s Game 1 starter. MLB reported his 2026 ERA at 2.67, describing it as seventh-lowest among qualified starting pitchers in its announcement and fourth among American League pitchers in its game preview. Those rankings use the scopes stated by MLB.
For additional matchup context, CBS Sports/RotoWire ranked the Rays fourth in OPS against right-handed pitching and 25th against left-handed pitching in 2026. That is an outlet-reported split, not MLB’s stated reason for selecting Cole. Cole called Tampa Bay “a complete lineup from top to bottom,” while Rasmussen characterized games against the Yankees as “a tight game — it’s a dogfight.”
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What is planned for the rest of the Yankees’ rotation?
MLB’s preview said the Yankees planned to use Cam Schlittler in Game 2. It also reported Rodón lined up for Game 3 or Game 4 at Yankee Stadium. These are plans reported before Game 1, not confirmation that either pitcher ultimately made those starts.
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Sources
- MLB.com / New York Yankees: Cole named ALDS Game 1 starter, October 2, 2026
- MLB.com: Yankees–Rays Game 1 FAQ and pregame details
- CBS Sports/RotoWire: Cole and Rays matchup statistics
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