CC Sabathia Predicts Yankees ALDS Game 1 Starter After Red Sox Win

CC Sabathia shared his thoughts on who will take the mound for the New York Yankees as they face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series. Although Sabathia has no official say, the Hall of Famer has strong opinions regarding the Yankees’ starting pitcher for the opening game.

During a broadcast on the Peacock studio show, after the Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their AL wild-card series, host Ahmed Fareed mentioned that Gerrit Cole seems prepared to start against the Rays. Sabathia responded positively, “Yeah, and then (Carlos) Rodon after that,” he said. “Now they’re set up with two other aces to start the first two games.”

Sabathia, who ended his illustrious career with the Yankees and now serves as a studio analyst with NBC Sports, has a rich postseason background with the team. From 2009 to 2019, he played in 18 postseason games, achieving an 8-4 record with a 3.42 ERA. Despite his extensive experience, Sabathia was surprised by the Yankees pitching performance against the Red Sox.

“It was remarkable to see the Yankees’ pitching staff exert such control over Boston,” Sabathia commented.

The Yankees’ recent performances have been outstanding, having achieved 26 consecutive scoreless innings against the Red Sox, a new record for the team against a single opponent in playoff history. The streak concluded in their 9-2 victory over Boston. This impressive run ensures their advancement to the series against Tampa Bay.

Yankees pitchers Cam Schlittler and Max Fried were instrumental, conceding only one run over 12.1 innings during the wild-card games against Boston. Both pitchers are expected to be ready for Game 3 on October 7, should the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, decide to choose them.

Gerrit Cole is a strong contender for Game 1. The right-handed pitcher, recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2025, achieved a 10-9 record with a 3.61 ERA in 22 regular-season games in 2026. Cole previously contributed to the Yankees’ push to the World Series in 2024, delivering five postseason starts with a 2.17 ERA.