​ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays beat out the Yankees for first in the AL East and won more games than anyone in the league with one of the lowest payrolls playing an entertaining throwback style of aggressive baseball. They have three stars at the top of their lineup. They have a .300 hitter in the middle who can fly.They bunt for hits, squeeze runners home and move runners better than anyone. Their rotation and bullpen are deep. Their record in one-run games was the best in the majors.The Rays have the Yankees respect.The Yankees also think they’re the better team heading into a postseason showdown that seemed inevitable, a best-of-five Division Series between the two best teams in the league.“At the end of the day, I think we played Tampa pretty well this year and I think we’re in a good spot,” Yankees ace Cam Schlittler said.The Rays won the season series 7-6, but the Yankees feel they’re peaking at the right time with their four aces finally all healthy at the same time.They’ll all be unleashed on the Rays. Gerrit Cole will start Saturday night’s Game 1 at Tropicana Field, Schlittler will go Game 2, then the Yankees will go to their lefties when the series moves to New York with Carlos Rodon probably starting Game 3 and Max Fried pitching Game 4 if there’s no sweep.The Yankees’ Division Series roster will be deeper than the 26-man squad that just swept the Red Sox in a Wild Card Series with 9-0 and 9-2 romps. Ryan Weathers is off the IL and available out of the bullpen, but Aaron Judge still isn’t return to return from his Grade 2 calf strain.The Yankees’ one change from their their Wild Card Series roster was adding Weathers for an 11th pitcher and dropping infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario.Second baseman Jazz Chisholm guaranteed the Yankees will win the series and Schlittler doubled down with “why would I disagree?” The captain is also confident, regardless of his status.“The Rays, they’ve got everything,” Judge said. “It’s a tough opponent. We’re up in the task. We saw them all year. We had our battles, and we’re just happy for the opportunity.”Here is a fans’ guide to the Yankees-Rays Division Series with a look at how the teams match up and position-by-position scouting reports from an MLB scout: SCHEDULESaturday, Oct. 3: Game 1, Yankees at Rays, 6:30 p.m. ETMonday, Oct. 5: Game 2, Yankees at Rays, 8 p.m. ETWednesday, Oct. 7: Game 3, Rays at YankeesThursday, Oct. 8: Game 4, Rays at Yankees, if necessaryThursday, Oct. 10: Game 5, Yankees at Rays, if necessaryPLAYOFF HISTORY2020 ALDS: Rays won series 3-2.2026 SEASONRays: Won AL East with 98-64 record.Yankees: Second in AL East with 93-68 record; Beat Red Sox in Wild Card Series 2-0.Season series: Rays 7-6.In New York: Yankees 4-2In St. Petersburg, Fla.: Rays 5-2.Game by gameApril 10, Tropicana Field: Rays 5, Yankees 3. WP-Steven Matz (3-0); LP-Luis Gil (0-1); S-Bryan Baker (2). Yankees HR-Ben Rice (4); Rays HR-Yandy Diaz (3).April 11, Tropicana