The fate of the New York Yankees’ 2026 season hangs in the balance tonight.
At 8 P.M. ET, Max Fried will take the hill in Game 3 of the ALDS against Fordham alum Nick Martinez’s Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in what could be the decisive game of the series.
As a quick refresher, Tampa Bay took the first two contests in Saint Petersburg prior to this evening’s showdown in the Bronx.
Game 1 was a pitcher’s duel led by 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball by Rays ace Drew Rasmussen (and an unfortunate Austin Wells base-running blunder) while the second skirmish went to Kevin Cash’s club after a number of errors set Cam Schlittler and the Yanks behind in Game 2.
Watch Yankees vs. Rays for free
- When: Oct. 5, 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
- How to watch for free: DIRECTV (five-day free trial)
- TV Channel: TBS
“If we don’t win, we go home. There’s nothing else to save anything for,” Fried said on Tuesday. “So I understand that the leash is probably going to be pretty small, and we have to do whatever we can to win. So, for me, it’s just leave everything out there.”
As an added wrinkle to the hoopla, Fried’s girlfriend Reni Meyer-Whalley is pregnant and may give birth any day. Still, he plans to pitch.
“I’ve got a really supportive family that understands that this is my job, and it’s not going to affect what happens [Wednesday],” Fried noted in a press conference.
Tonight, we’ll see if he can give the Yankees life.
Here’s how to tune in to the Game 3 of the best-of-five ALDS without cable.
Yankees vs. Rays start time
Game 2 of the Yankees-Rays ALDS is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET today, Oct. 5.
How to watch Yankees vs. Rays ALDS Game 3 for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream Yankees vs. Rays for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes TBS as part of its 125+ channel options.
Yankees vs. Rays starting pitchers
Max Fried (5-5 2.80 ERA) will start for the Yankees and Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) is toeing the rubber for the Rays.
Yankees vs. Rays ALDS schedule
- Game 3: Oct. 7, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Game 4: Oct. 8, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)*
- Game 5: Oct. 10, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)*
*if necessary
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
