Yankees Face Rays in ALDS After Wild Card Sweep of Red Sox The New York Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox in the wild card round and now face the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, likely without Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees will face the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series after sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the wild card round. Game 1 is set for Tropicana Field, where the Yankees have gone 34-45 since 2016. The two best teams in the American League are set to meet in the ALDS. The Rays finished with the top record in the AL, with the Yankees next, but because MLB does not reseed during the playoffs, the two division rivals are forced to face each other now. That figures to give the winner of this series a clear path to the World Series.Yankees Enter ALDS on MomentumThe Yankees beat Boston 2-0 in the wild card series. Cam Schlittler struck out 10 and held the Red Sox scoreless in a Game 1 win on Sept. 29, 2026. Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run in a wild-card Game 2 win on Sept. 30, 2026. George Lombard Jr. went 4-for-8 and played flawlessly at shortstop in the wild card series.The two teams have met just once in the postseason prior to this series, in the 2020 ALDS, when Mike Brosseau of the Rays hit a series-deciding, game-winning homer off Aroldis Chapman. This season, no team had a better home record than the Rays, and the Yankees will have to win at least one game at Tropicana Field to move on. They will likely be without Aaron Judge again. Aaron Judge's status remains uncertain for the series.His potential absence could affect the roster. The Yankees are still feeling good about their chances against the Rays. Even with Judge sidelined, the DH has shown an excellent ability to get on base and he was especially solid against the Rays this season. While the loss of Judge did not hurt the Yankees against the Red Sox, a longer series against a better opponent will be a greater test for this lineup.Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt are among the Yankees who have struggled versus the Rays this season, so there will be pressure on Rice. The lineup showed some depth from Luis Garcia Jr., Austin Wells and George Lombard Jr. against Boston. The Yankees won three of four against the Rays at Yankee Stadium in the final week of the regular season. Fans hope that recent success carries into October.Left-Handed Pitching Could Favor YankeesThe Rays are shockingly bad against left-handed pitching. They have only three above-average hitters versus lefties: Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, and Ryan Vilade. That number rises to seven against right-handed pitching. Tampa Bay makes contact against anyone, but its power comes mostly against righties.Left-handed pitching could favor the Yankees. Against lefties, the lineup struggles to do damage. Liam Hicks, a big deadline acquisition, is equally poor at left-on-left hitting. This plays into the Yankees' hands.They have two All-Star-caliber lefty starters and several lefty bullpen options. Carlos Rodon will play a role in the ALDS, whether as a starter or reliever. Max Fried is certain to pitch Game 3. He shut out the Rays for eight innings a week ago.He could pitch in Game 1 and Game 4 on normal rest, though Gerrit Cole's presence complicates that plan. If Cole wins the Game 1 nod, Rodon could join a deep lefty bullpen group. That group includes Brent Headrick, who has reverse splits, Ryan Yarbrough, and Tim Hill. Ryan Weathers may be added to the ALDS roster after completing his rehab from a forearm strain.Tropicana Field Shapes ALDS MatchupRays starter Drew Rasmussen has a history of success against the Yankees, aside from one rough start in early July. The biggest concern for the Yankees is Tropicana Field. If the series goes the distance, three of five games will be played there. It is the first time the Yankees will play a postseason game at the venue.The 2020 ALDS was played at a neutral site due to COVID-19. The Yankees are 34-45 at Tropicana Field since 2016, a 70-win pace. They are 416-345 at all other road venues in that span, an 89-win pace. At Yankee Stadium against the Rays in that span, the Yankees are 54-37, a 96-win pace.Their home record against everyone else is a similar 99-win pace. The turf boosts a ground-ball-heavy Rays team that uses speed and bunts. The turf also causes soft-tissue injuries and makes fly balls harder to read for opposing teams. The Rays went 55-26 at home, a 110-win pace, the best home record in four years.Aaron Boone Faces Tough Postseason TestUnder Aaron Boone, the Yankees are 8-7 in playoff series. They are 7-0 with home-field advantage but 1-7 without it. The lone win came in 2020 against Cleveland in front of zero fans. Last year, the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the wild card series before being swept by the Blue Jays in the ALDS.They lacked the fortitude to come back in Toronto. This year, they believe they are better equipped. Cam Schlittler said during the clubhouse celebration, I think we were set up good last year, we just did not play good baseball. Toronto just kind of beat the s out of us.So we have the opportunity to go in there and take two at their place, and we know there is going to be a lot of Yankees fans there. The series opens at Tropicana Field.