# Yankees-Rays ALDS Position Breakdown

> Yankees and Rays face first postseason clash in renovated stadiums.
- Title: Yankees-Rays ALDS Position Breakdown · Mlb | Shortify
- Summary: Yankees and Rays face first postseason clash in renovated stadiums. Yankees and Rays have never met in postseason before, with Rays winning 2020 ALDS but…
- Keywords: yankees, rays, al division series, tropicana field, yankee stadium, position by position, mlb, alds, sports, Yankees-Rays, Position, Breakdown
- Source: Mlb — https://mlb.com/news/yankees-rays-alds-position-by-position-breakdown
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: yankees, rays, al division series, tropicana field, yankee stadium, position by position, mlb, alds, sports
## First matchup
The Yankees and Rays have never met in a postseason series before, though the Rays beat the Yankees in the 2020 AL Division Series.

> The official attendance was "zero".
## 2020 ALDS context
All five games were played in San Diego’s Petco Park with zero official attendance.

> The official attendance was "zero".
## Tropicana Field
This weekend features the first fully rocking and renovated Tropicana Field before a fully rocking and rolling Yankee Stadium.
## Catcher
Austin Wells had a poor season with a .186 average and 74 OPS+, but improved in the second half to be 24% better than average.
## Rays' catcher edge
The Rays have mid-season acquisition Liam Hicks with a .801 OPS and Nick Fortes, while the Yankees avoid using backup Ali Sánchez.
## First base
The Yankees use a platoon split of Luis García Jr. (vs. righties) and Paul Goldschmidt (vs. lefties), with Shane McClanahan injured.
## First base comparison
García has a 125 OPS+ and Jonathan Aranda has a 121 OPS+, with the Yankees having better defense and a better righty platoon partner.
## Second base
The Rays use both Richie Palacios and Ben Williamson, with Palacios hitting righties well (.748 OPS) and Williamson having a 74 OPS+.
## Second base advantage
The Yankees have Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a better hitting track record and multiple platoon options including José Caballero and Anthony Volpe.
## Shortstop
Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. has a 92 OPS+, while Rays veteran Taylor Walls has a 71 OPS+ and a weak career record.
## Shortstop decision
We take Taylor Walls as the shortstop with better defense despite Lombard Jr.'s fielding reputation.
## Third base
Junior Caminero hit 42 homers and is likely to end up with a top-five MVP finish, while Ryan McMahon is not.
## Left field
Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson is a contact hitter with elite speed, while Cody Bellinger is a well-rounded player with better defense.
## Center field
Aaron Judge may be out, with Trent Grisham starting, though he had a hamstring injury and a .211 batting average.
## Right field
Victor Mesa Jr. has a 127 OPS+ and won a mid-September Player of the Week Award, while Jones has a 105 OPS+.
## Designated hitter
Yandy Díaz hit 22 homers with a 124 OPS+ at 34 years old, making him a key part of the Tampa Bay offense.
## Starting pitchers
The Yankees have the best starting pitching ERA, with Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón as likely starters.
## Relief pitchers
Both teams have strong bullpens with similar performance, though the Yankees added more Win Probability in the second half.
## Prediction
The Rays win the series in five games, with one game where their chaos gets them a win they may not have otherwise claimed.
## Key takeaway

Yankees and Rays have never met in postseason before, with Rays winning 2020 ALDS but this year's series features renovated stadiums and tight competition.