Yankees make most of rare road opportunity as they look to bounce back in ALDS

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Oct 4, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More often than not, teams cannot use Trajekt pitching machines on the road.

While most big league stadiums have the contraptions, which feature a video board and can simulate any pitcher, they are typically considered a home field advantage. Visiting teams get stuck with traditional pitching machines while home teams keep the high-tech, expensive-to-lease Trajekt to themselves.

But the Tampa Bay area is not a normal road destination for the Yankees, who are down 1-0 to the Rays in the ALDS. Their spring training stadium, George M. Steinbrenner Field, and player development complex, nicknamed Himes, are across the street from each other in Tampa, and they have a Trajekt machine on site. Aaron Boone said the Bombers made the most of it on Sunday’s off day, opting to work out at their own facilities instead of at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

The Trajekt wasn’t the only reason they made that choice, but it didn’t hurt.

“A lot of them are there,” Boone said over Zoom. “As we speak, probably finishing up right now. Our pitchers are there throwing and doing things, and a number of position players over there, as well.

“You’ve got a full facility, our training stuff, modalities, things like that, plenty of fields to get whatever space you need. We’ve got Trajekt for guys who want to get on that. And staying in Tampa, it’s a quick, easier back and forth.”

Those who used the Trajekt surely simulated at-bats against Freddy Peralta, who will start Game 2 of the ALDS for the Rays on Monday. The Yankees’ offense is looking for any edge it can get after Drew Rasmussen no-hit them for 7 2/3 innings in Game 1 on Saturday. Austin Wells had the only hit of the night, and he was thrown out trying to unwisely stretch a double into a triple.

Peralta, meanwhile, is coming off a down-and-up season that took off after he was traded from the Mets. He recorded a 3.25 ERA over 10 starts with the Rays, and he has a 1.69 ERA across four starts at The Trop this year.

Boone noted that the right-hander’s fastball plays up at the indoor ballpark.

“We’ve got a little bit of familiarity,” the manager continued. “We’ve seen him a couple times the last couple years. Some of our guys have experience against him, so hopefully that serves us well.”

While active Yankees hitters were busy preparing for Peralta on Sunday, an inactive hitter continued to rehab in Tampa.

That would be Aaron Judge, who has been held off the Yankees’ postseason rosters thus far due to a moderate calf strain that he suffered on Sept. 16. Boone said that he ran on Sunday after not doing so on Saturday. The back-to-back MVP was also expected to face live pitching.

“Just another workday,” said Boone, who hopes to have Judge if the Yankees make it to the ALCS. “Trying to stack another good day and, obviously, continue to heal up.”

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