Rays up 1‑0 as Game 2 becomes a battle of rebuilt vs. dominant
The Tampa Bay Rays enter Monday night with a 1‑0 lead in the ALDS after Drew Rasmussen nearly no‑hit the Yankees in Game 1. Now the series shifts into a marquee pitching matchup: Freddy Peralta, the Rays’ revived veteran, against Cam Schlittler, the Yankees’ road‑dominant ace and likely AL Cy Young Award winner.
Peralta’s turnaround since arriving from the Mets has been one of baseball’s most dramatic storylines. Tampa Bay rebuilt him mechanically, shifting him almost entirely to the stretch and adjusting his arm angle. The results have been staggering. Over his last six starts, Peralta is 5‑0 with a 0.79 ERA. In September, he posted a 0.96 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 28 innings. At Tropicana Field, he’s been even better: a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in four starts.
The Rays have embraced Peralta as a postseason weapon, even considering him for a super‑reliever role. Instead, he gets the ball in Game 2 with a chance to push Tampa Bay to a commanding series lead.
Schlittler brings Cy Young form into hostile territory
The Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler, who has been nearly unhittable on the road. His 1.16 road ERA leads all of MLB, and he’s already faced Tampa Bay three times this season, going 1‑1 with a 2.81 ERA. Schlittler’s mix of three fastballs and a curveball has given the Rays trouble before, including an eight‑inning, eight‑strikeout performance on July 6.
New York needs him at his best. A loss would send the Yankees home down 2‑0, while a win would even the series and erase the sting of Rasmussen’s Game 1 dominance.
Game 2 details
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, 8 p.m. ET Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg Broadcast: TBS, truTV, HBO Max; UniMás (Spanish); ESPN Radio nationally
What’s at stake
The Rays are looking to capitalize on momentum and Peralta’s resurgence to seize full control of the ALDS. The Yankees are fighting to avoid a deep hole, relying on Schlittler’s road brilliance to stabilize the series.
With both pitchers in elite form, Game 2 has all the makings of a postseason classic — one that could swing the entire ALDS.
