The New York Yankees received a strong performance from their pitching staff in the opener of their American League Division Series matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays but had no answer for Drew Rasmussen. In order to avoid being pushed to the brink of elimination, they'll need to solve Freddy Peralta. Make your MLB, Monday Night Football and NHL picks at BetMGM Sportsbook with promo code CBSSPORTS and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses: The Yankees look to even the ALDS when they visit Tropicana Field in St.
Petersburg, Fla. on Monday to face the Rays in Game 2 at 8 p.m. New York limited Tampa Bay to one run and five hits in Saturday's series opener but managed just one hit of its own in a 1-0 loss. Jonathan Aranda belted a one-out solo homer off Gerrit Cole in the third inning and Rasmussen, who was making his second career postseason start and first since 2021, carried a no-hitter into the eighth.
The Rays' right-hander retired the first two batters before Austin Wells ripped a double down the right-field line. However, Wells made an ill-advised decision to attempt to stretch it into a triple and easily was thrown out at third. Closer Bryan Baker struck out two while retiring the Yankees in order in the ninth as Tampa Bay drew first blood.
New York attempts to avoid an 0-2 series deficit behind AL Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler, who worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series. The 25-year-old righty owns a 2.67 career ERA against the Rays but has won just one of his five starts. However, the Yankees are 3-2 in those contests, with two of the victories coming on the road.
Tampa Bay counters with Peralta, who is just 1-3 with a 4.32 ERA in nine career playoff appearances -- including six starts. The 30-year-old Dominican right-hander escaped with a no-decision in his only turn against the Yankees during the 2026 regular season as he gave up three runs on two hits and six walks over five innings on May 17 while with the New York Mets. In the other ALDS, the Chicago White Sox try to move within one win of the AL Championship Series when they take on the Cleveland Guardians at 5 p.m.
ET in Game 2 at Progressive Field. The White Sox, who swept their Wild Card Series with the Houston Astros, hope to improve to 4-0 on the road this postseason after defeating Cleveland 3-0 in Saturday's opener. Rookie Japanese star Munetaka Murakami went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and five pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the AL Central champion Guardians struck out 12 times.
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