Rays-Yankees Leads to Postseason Rotations and Questions

Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

BRONX, NY — This was supposed to be a defining series for the Yankees had they swept four games, but the Rays came to the Bronx this week needing one win. Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium, they clinched the American League East division.

Tampa Bay, with the top seed in the AL, and best record at 96-63, have a first round bye heading to the ALDS. As for the Yankees, they won’t concede anything to the Rays because they could meet again in the division series after taking three of four games and the finale Thursday evening.

A message was sent to Tampa Bay after the Yankees’ 6-4 win, their 36th comeback of the season. Three games remain with the Orioles and then Tuesday starts real business. The Red Sox and Yankees in a best two of three AL Wild Card Series.

Win that series at Yankee Stadium and they meet again in the ALDS without a home field advantage. Had the Yankees been more consistent all year round, losing the season series to the Rays, 7-6, home field would be in the Bronx.

Then again, it’s not all bad. The Yankees are a Wild Card team and heading to the postseason with momentum. It’s not improbable, eight Wild Card teams have won the World Series since Major League Baseball introduced the format in 1995.

And at 92-67, if the Yankees sweep three season ending games at home against the Orioles, 95 wins would be a statement as a Wild Card team. Three games and forced to play a doubleheader Friday because of an expected Nor’easter Saturday that forces a day off.

Doesn’t matter to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, he said weather is not the priority. His team is ready for that rematch with the Red Sox. An AL Wild Card Series matchup the Yankees won last year to advance to the ALDS and then losing to the Blue Jays without home field advantage.

For Boone and the Yankees, it’s time for roster construction and aligning who starts the first two games that begin Tuesday evening. An important first game win would secure a quick advantage. 

“Pretty darn good,” said Boone about Cam Schlittler and his 2026 season, the projected AL Cy Young Award winner. “He’s going to have some nice hardware coming his way in December.”

In his final and 33rd start of the year, Schlittler was limited to 70 pitches and left without a decision (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB and 5 strikeouts). He finished with Cy Young Award caliber winning numbers—14-6, with 239 strikeouts, and a 1.95 ERA—the lowest for an American League pitcher since Justin Verlander and his 1.75 in 2022.

As much as Schlittler would embrace the opportunity to be on the mound Tuesday, there is discussion of starting left-hander Max Fried. If that were the case, Schlittler would start Game 2 with that extra day of rest. Again this also begins a possible configuration for Boone to align the rotation if the Yankees meet the Rays in the ALDS.

“There’s always more work to be done,” said Schlittler. “You can always get better and I’m going to take that confidence into the Wild Card.”

Cam Schlittler's 2Ks in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/ha9XbLIx9F

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 24, 2026

Schlittler deserves that first game start, he wasn’t showing any discontent and credited a Yankees team for their accomplishments. It’s about matchups and numbers that are more significant in the postseason.

The Rays won the season series, have been the surprise and best team in the AL since the onset.

Losing this series also gave them an indication of a Yankees team and how they could align their starters for the first two games of the ALDS, whether it be the Yankees or Red Sox.

And more on that, the Rays are expected to start veteran right-hander Nick Martinez and follow with fellow righty Drew Rasmussen or go with Freddy Peralta when they host the first two games of the ALDS.

With three off days in the ALDS, manager Kevin Cash has options. Left-hander Ian Seymour put his name into the picture by allowing one run with five scoreless innings before the Yankees made their comeback Thursday night. He struck out three and allowed no walks.

“That was outstanding,” Cash said about Seymour. “Really impressive work. Couldn’t ask for much more. We’ve had preliminary discussions. We haven’t decided which way we’re going on anything right now.”

Stop drop and roll pic.twitter.com/V9yJWfyx5G

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 25, 2026

Cash, though, has some time, as Game 1 of the ALDS begins next Saturday, October 3rd at Tropicana Field. And Seymour could also provide innings out of the bullpen if either the Yankees or Red Sox hold a nice advantage. Moving out of the bullpen in June and compiling a 3.91 ERA with 125 strikeouts over 101 ⅓ innings, he can definitely contribute and will have a roster spot. 

So pitching will be the emphasis as it always is in a short postseason series. The Yankees also used the home run ball again, Austin Wells with a sixth inning solo shot and George Lombard Jr. in the eighth inning two-run home run that stamped their comeback.

The Rays with that potent offense got to Schlittler early. Yandy Díaz with two hits and Junior Caminero with two RBI, his 98th and 99th, which ranks third in the AL.

That Cami connection 💥 pic.twitter.com/Ptmz4luI7J

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 25, 2026

But three more games remain for the Yankees (vs. the Orioles) and Rays (vs. the Phillies).

And if they meet in the ALDS, it could come down to who gets those first two starts down in Tampa.

Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

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