Rays Prepare for ALDS Showdown with Yankees, Highlighting Key Players and Local Connections
As the Yankees gear up for the 2026 ALDS in St. Petersburg, a closer look at the Tampa Bay Rays reveals pitchers with injury comebacks, a manager with a championship past, and a closer who overcame significant adversity.
The Tampa Bay Rays are set to face the New York Yankees in the 2026 ALDS, with several key storylines emerging around the Rays' roster and coaching staff.
Pitching Prowess and Resilience
Drew Rasmussen, slated to start Game 1 of the series, has a notable history against the Yankees, posting a 1.81 ERA in 10 career starts against them. His journey to this point has been marked by significant challenges, including two Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and 2017, followed by an internal brace procedure in 2023. Despite these setbacks, Rasmussen has emerged as a successful pitcher.
Another key figure on the mound is All-Star Nick Martinez. Before becoming a major league pitcher, Martinez spent time at Fordham University as both a relief pitcher and infielder. In a peculiar turn of events, he was ejected from Yankee Stadium as a fan prior to his professional career, reportedly due to consuming too many alcoholic beverages. His next appearance in the stadium will be as a starting pitcher for the Rays.
Lefty Cam Booser, who has posted a 1.98 ERA in 42 appearances, may be called upon in high-leverage situations. Booser's path to the majors has been anything but conventional. He initially retired in 2017 after a series of injuries, including a broken femur and fractured vertebra in high school, Tommy John surgery in college, a torn labrum, and a broken back sustained in a biking accident. He also served a 50-game suspension in 2015 for a positive marijuana test. After working in construction, he began his comeback in independent leagues in 2021.
Managerial Ties and Closing Strength
Tampa Bay's manager, Kevin Cash, has a history with championship teams. While he narrowly missed a World Series ring as a manager six years prior, he did win a championship as a player with the Yankees in 2009, despite appearing in only 10 games that season. He also secured a ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2007.
The Rays have also demonstrated considerable strength in closing out games. Bryan Baker led MLB in regular-season saves with 41. The team as a whole excelled in one-run games, winning 64 percent of them (25-14), the best record in the league for such contests.