Game Recap: 2026 ALDS, Game 1 – L– NYY: 0, TB: 1
In nine seasons with Aaron Boone as manager, the Yankees have never defeated a higher-seeded opponent in a traditional postseason series. That is a mind-boggling stat, and after yesterday’s 1-0 loss to the Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS, it could continue.
Yankees fans were overconfident after beating Boston in the Wild Card Series. Now, they have moved to the opposite end of the spectrum, and understandably so. At Tropicana Field last night, Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
Rasmussen, one of baseball’s most talented tunnelers, owns a 1.81 ERA in 10 career starts against the Yankees. Aside from one mid-July start, he has dominated New York’s lineup. Yesterday, in one of the best postseason starts in Rays history, he struck out 10 batters in eight one-hit innings, tying the franchise’s postseason single-game strikeout record.
The Yankees’ stellar pitching staff, led by Gerrit Cole, held the Rays to one run on five hits. In the third inning, Jonathan Aranda reached toward the outer edge of the strike zone and barrelled a belt-high changeup 417 feet to right field. The Rays, who ranked ninth in home runs in the regular season, won with the long ball.
That was all they’d get, though. Cole was strong, giving up one run in five innings. Behind him, Ryan Weathers tossed a scoreless frame in his first appearance since August 22, and Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick prevented the Rays from adding to their 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ offense, which outscored the Red Sox 18-2 on Tuesday and Wednesday, could not solve Rasmussen. His cutter, changeup, and sinker all sat on the same plane, but at the plate, they split off in different directions. Rasmussen nibbled at the corners all night, tunneling the Yankees to death.
That is, until the eighth inning, when Austin Wells broke the no-no bid. He caught enough of a hanging sinker to drill it down the right-field line. He ended Rasmussen’s no-hit bid, but instead of settling for a double, he tried to reach third base. But Victor Mesa Jr. played the ball perfectly in right field, and Wells got tagged.
Wells didn’t realize how quickly Mesa retrieved the ball. In most ballparks, it might have changed directions, but the Trop doesn’t have normal dirt. Knowing this, third-base coach Luis Rojas held up the stop sign before Wells reached second. But Wells didn’t realize.
“I was being aggressive,” the Yankees’ catcher argued. “We didn’t really have much going on there in the game, so every 90 feet matters. Obviously, I have full trust in the guys behind me, but I was trying to make something happen.”
Had Wells stopped at second, anybody from the Yankees’ bench could have pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon. Boone likely would have gone with Giancarlo Stanton, who led off the ninth inning. But by that point, it was too late. The Yankees had already wasted their one shot to score.
“Obviously, I wanted to be safe,” Wells said. “I was committed to being there and thought I had a good chance to get there. You can’t hang your head too much. [Tampa Bay] pitched incredibly tonight.”
A 1-0 loss tends to open the whole can of worms. Did the Yankees miss their chance to steal a game? Did they waste excellent pitching? Can they come back to win this series, especially if they have to face Rasmussen again at the Trop in a potential Game 4 or 5?
Just like he did against Sonny Gray in Game 2 against Boston, Boone put eight lefties in his starting lineup. Lefties hit .205 against Rasmussen this season while righties hit .191, so he is clearly strong on both sides of the plate. But George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ only righty, made some of the best contact against Rasmussen.
Lombard’s success, or near-success because he never hit safely, suggests the Yankees didn’t challenge Rasmussen enough. Alternating between lefties and righties could have disrupted his groove. However, without Aaron Judge, the Yankees lack options.
For example, Anthony Volpe is a right-handed option at second base, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. deserves to start. Also, Paul Goldschmidt can play third base, but Luis García Jr. excels against righties. And catcher Ali Sánchez hits right-handed, but he is barely an offensive threat.
This is the Judge effect on full display. Yankees fans said they didn’t need their captain in the ALDS. Heck, so did Cam Schlittler, who acknowledged his team’s explosive offensive numbers against Boston despite Judge’s absence.
However, most postseason games are one-run contests, and home runs account for nearly 50% of postseason runs. Judge might not have the best career October numbers, but he is a prolific home run hitter who can change a game with one swing.
At the same time, in a 1-0 loss, Rasmussen deserves a lot of credit. Between Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Luis García Jr., the Yankees lineup has plenty of pop without Judge. Rasmussen’s command was so sensational that the Yankees could not muster any hits, let alone a home run.
With Cam Schlittler starting on Monday, the Yankees must win Game 2. They cannot afford to return to Yankee Stadium one loss away from elimination. If they extend the series, they could face Rasmussen again in Game 4 or 5, but if they win on Monday, they will at least have a chance to avoid him.
Game 2 of the ALDS is scheduled for Monday at 8 PM (TBS, TRUTV, MAX). RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA, 239 K) will start against RHP Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42 ERA, 156 K).
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
