Baltimore Orioles v New York Yankees / New York Yankees/GettyImages
It still feels like it’s so far away, but the Division Series will begin on Saturday as the current Wild Card round wraps up. The New York Yankees are slated to take on the winner of the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals’ clash when the time comes.
The Royals took Game 1 from the O’s with a narrow 1-0 victory at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Corbin Burnes’ eight-inning effort was wasted, and now Baltimore’s backs are against the wall with Zach Eflin taking the hill on Wednesday.
Regardless of who the Yankees face, the opponent now knows the time and place for the first two games of the ALDS. MLB revealed the start times for Saturday’s and Monday’s matchups in the Bronx.
Saturday’s Game 1 affair will start at 6:38 p.m. ET and Monday’s Game 2 matchup will kick off at 7:38 p.m. ET. Why are these times so weird? Why is there an off day in between Games 1 and 2 despite the location not changing? These are the same questions we ask every year.
But if you’re planning to get to Yankee Stadium for some postseason action, you can now start making the necessary adjustments to your schedule.
MLB announces start times for Yankees’ first two ALDS games vs Orioles or Royals
A Game 5, if necessary, will take place in the Bronx next Saturday, Oct. 12. Let’s hope it doesn’t reach that point.
In the meantime, the Yankees have a number of tough roster decisions to make. With the injuries to Nestor Cortes and Anthony Rizzo (both of whom are probably going to miss the entirety of the playoffs), manager Aaron Boone has some manuevering to do.
Marcus Stroman’s status is still up in the air despite Cortes’ absence. Reliever Jake Cousins could be ready for Game 1 after hitting the IL last week. Ben Rice is expected to play a notable role at first base (likely alongside Oswaldo Cabrera). Did Trent Grisham’s weekend earn him a roster spot? What’s the deal in left field? We simply don’t know.
All we know right now is that we’re expecting Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to start the first two contests at Yankee Stadium. Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge will make up the top of the lineup. Jazz Chisholm will be starting, but do we know exactly where yet? Probably, but we’d like to think Boone will be more flexible.
Stay tuned for more updates on Games 3, 4 and 5 as well as any momentous Yankees roster decisions in the coming days.
