So far, Tampa Bay leads the Yankees one game to none after a 1-0 win Saturday night at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth, striking out 10, walking two, and retiring 15 in a row. Finally, Austin Wells doubled with two outs and was thrown out trying for third. Jonathan Aranda’s homer off Gerrit Cole was the only run. Bryan Baker closed it.
The Rays are the top American League seed after a 98-win season and a first-round bye. Still, New York, which swept Boston in the wild card, is without Aaron Judge (calf, out since Sept. 16). Giancarlo Stanton pinch-hit in the ninth in his first plate appearance since April.
Game 2 is Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern at the Trop—namely, Cam Schlittler against Freddy Peralta, with the Yankees a short favorite around -131. The series then goes to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. And, if needed, Thursday, with a potential Game 5 back in St. Petersburg on Saturday. Tampa Bay has the MLB Playoff Odds series lead, the home field, and the better start from its ace. New York needs Cole’s outing not to be the high point of the series.
Meanwhile, Chicago leads Cleveland one game to none after a 3-0 win Saturday at Progressive Field. The White Sox are the bracket’s surprise. To show, the Sox are an 84-78 club that swept the Astros in the wild card. And then they blanked the Guardians, the AL Central champions, who finished 85-77 and had the bye.
Game 2 is Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern in Cleveland with Anthony Kay against Gavin Williams. The series shifts to Rate Field for Wednesday and, if needed, Thursday. And then back to Progressive Field for a possible Game 5 on Saturday.
Still, Cleveland has home field for two of the remaining games if it goes the distance. But Chicago has already stolen the Sportsbook odds opener on the road and does not need to win in Cleveland again to take the series.
SBG MLB Odds -2026 American League Division Series Round
The 2026 ALDS is a best-of-five in a 2-2-1 format. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, and 5. Games air on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max, with Spanish on UniMas. Times below are Eastern.
Rays vs. Yankees (Tampa Bay leads 1–0)
- Game 1, Saturday, Oct. 3 at Tropicana Field: Rays 1, Yankees 0
- Game 2, Monday, Oct. 5 at Tropicana Field: 8 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max (Cam Schlittler vs. Freddy Peralta)
- Game 3, Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Yankee Stadium: 8 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
- Game 4 if necessary, Thursday, Oct. 8 at Yankee Stadium: 8 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
- Game 5 if necessary, Saturday, Oct. 10 at Tropicana Field: 8 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
White Sox vs. Guardians (Chicago leads 1–0)
- Game 1, Saturday, Oct. 3 at Progressive Field: White Sox 3, Guardians 0
- Game 2, Monday, Oct. 5 at Progressive Field: 5 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max (Anthony Kay vs. Gavin Williams)
- Game 3, Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Rate Field: 4 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
- Game 4 if necessary, Thursday, Oct. 8 at Rate Field: 5 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
- Game 5 if necessary, Saturday, Oct. 10 at Progressive Field: 5 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max
If only one series needs a Game 4, that game starts at 8 p.m. Eastern. The ALCS opens Monday, Oct. 12. Times can still change.
SBG Free Picks
To conclude, Tampa Bay is the MLB odds side to advance. Still, Aaron Judge is out with the calf injury that has kept him down since Sept. 16. And Giancarlo Stanton only just returned as a pinch hitter.
Meanwhile, Chicago is the better number against Cleveland. The White Sox were 48-33 at Rate Field, which is where Games 3 and 4 will be played. The team that already stole the opener on the road is the series best bet.
SBG Best Bet: Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox.