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Gerrit Cole to Start ALDS Game 1 vs Rays

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 2:41 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Gerrit Cole Starts

Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the ALDS for the Yankees versus the Rays.
Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays, posting a 1.81 ERA against Yankees.
The Yankees entered the series after sweeping the Red Sox 18-2 in the Wild Card.
Ticket prices for Game 1 at Tropicana Field start at $123, fees included.
Aaron Judge remains sidelined with a calf strain and is not on the ALDS roster.

Summary

TBS Broadcasts ALDS

TBS will televise every ALDS game while HBO Max provides streaming access.
The YES Network will not broadcast postseason games, forcing New York fans to use national feeds.
The series follows a 2-2-1 format with Games 1, 2, 5 at Tropicana Field and Games 3, 4 at Yankee Stadium.
Game 1 starts Saturday, Oct 3 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Game 1 also streams on truTV.

History

Historical Context

After the 1994 players’ strike halted the season and cancelled the World Series—ending the ABC/NBC Baseball Network—MLB turned to Fox, which won national broadcast rights in 1996. That agreement reshaped postseason coverage and set a centralized TV model that now drives higher ticket prices. The strike had lasted 232 days.

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Gerrit Cole Starts

Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the ALDS for the Yankees versus the Rays.
Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays, posting a 1.81 ERA against Yankees.
The Yankees entered the series after sweeping the Red Sox 18-2 in the Wild Card.
Ticket prices for Game 1 at Tropicana Field start at $123, fees included.
Aaron Judge remains sidelined with a calf strain and is not on the ALDS roster.

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