The Rays are back in the postseason after a three-year absence, and they enter October with the kind of setup every team wants: the American League’s top seed and a bye into the ALDS. Tampa Bay has its eyes on a return to the World Series after its 2020 appearance, but the path won’t be easy just because it skipped the Wild Card round.
Fans looking to be part of it at The Trop can already start checking tickets for the Rays’ playoff run. Game 1 of the ALDS currently has a get-in price of $100, with prices and availability changing as the series gets closer.
Tampa Bay’s first opponent will be the winner of Yankees/Red Sox, and the ALDS schedule is lined up with Game 1 on Sat., Oct. 3, Game 2 on Mon., Oct.
5, Game 3 on Wed., Oct. 7, Game 4 on Thurs., Oct. 8, and Game 5 on Sat., Oct. 10 if needed.
The full MLB postseason bracket is also set. In the American League, the Rays will face a TBD opponent as the No. 1 seed, while the Guardians also await a TBD team.
The Astros are matched with the White Sox, and the Yankees and Red Sox meet in the other AL bracket pairing. In the National League, the Brewers and Dodgers are both waiting on TBD opponents, while the Braves draw the Phillies and the Padres face the Cubs.
The MLB Playoffs begin with the Wild Card series on September 29. The next two rounds will run through October, and the World Series is scheduled to begin on October 23.
In Other News...
Dodgers Staff Suddenly Tied To A Mariners Search Fans Should Watch
The Mariners are moving quickly after parting ways with Dan Wilson following a disappointing 2026 season, and the search has already started to draw in a familiar name from the Rays orbit. Team president Jerry Dipoto wants a manager with major league experience, and the list of possibilities has begun to take shape with several established voices already under consideration.
Among the candidates being discussed are Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli, Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward and Rays senior advisor Brandon Hyde, with Seattle also looking at Torey Lovullo and Stephen Vogt. The process is still in its early stages, but the Mariners are actively making calls around the league as they try to find a fit that can steady the dugout and reset the direction of the club. [Read more 🡒]
Griffin Jax Could Become A Rays October Weapon If Hes Ready
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The Rays are weighing a three-man starting rotation for the American League Division Series, a setup that could push Jax back into a bullpen role if all goes according to plan. For a team that values every leverage inning in October, having a pitcher in form and available can make a real difference, which is why Jax remains a name to watch as Tampa Bay finalizes how it wants to attack the postseason. [Read more 🡒]
Rays May Get The Yankees Matchup Fans Were Dreading Most
The Rays now sit in the familiar October posture of waiting on the next domino to fall, with their American League Division Series opponent still to be decided by the Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Series. For Tampa Bay, the matchup matters just as much as the timing, because the path could shift quickly depending on who survives the opener and how the bracket settles before the Division Series begins.
If the Yankees get through, the Rays could be staring at a rotation headlined by Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole, a group that would make for a demanding early test. Aaron Judges injury status is another part of the equation to watch during the Wild Card round, since his availability could shape both the Yankees ceiling and the challenge Tampa Bay ultimately draws. [Read more 🡒]