The first American League wild-card series kicks off Friday at 12:07 p.m. ET when the Guardians (3) host the Rays (6) at Progressive Field.
In the new MLB playoff format, each league has three wild-card teams advancing to the postseason, and the wild-card series is now a best of three.
The Guardians earned the 3-seed by winning the AL Central, while the Rays got in via the final wild-card berth and earned the 6-seed. The season series between these teams finished in favor of the Guardians, 4-2. The Guardians won two of three in each series, including the most recent in Cleveland in late September.