CC Sabathia’s World Series prediction came with a twist, and not the flattering kind for Cleveland.
Working NBC Sports’ coverage of the MLB wild-card round on Thursday, Oct. 1, the Hall of Fame pitcher chose the New York Yankees over the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2027 World Series. The pick itself wasn’t the shock. The reasoning was.
When studio host Ahmed Fareed asked Sabathia to explain, Sabathia said, “I’m trying to get my two teams to the World Series.”
That line landed awkwardly because Sabathia’s career started in Cleveland. He spent his first 10 seasons in the organization before later moving on to Milwaukee and New York. Even more notably, the Guardians were still alive in the postseason at the time, set to host the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-five AL Division Series.
And Sabathia had picked against them.
He went with his former club, the White Sox, over Cleveland, even though Chicago finished second to the Guardians in the AL Central during the regular season.
The choice stood out even more given how often Sabathia has spoken warmly about his early years in Cleveland. In a 2021 interview, he said, “I wouldn’t have lasted two years in the big leagues if I were (drafted) anywhere else but Cleveland,” he said.
“I truly grew up there. I got to Cleveland and I was still a boy.
I was 17 years old. I got to the big leagues at 20.
I’m still close to so many people in the organization. From old teammates to their old GM Mark Shapiro to even the clubhouse attendants, in a sense they raised me.
“I got drafted by the perfect organization, and if I didn’t get drafted by them I’d be in the big leagues for no longer than … two years.”
Sabathia’s exit from Cleveland was far less sentimental. After the sides couldn’t reach a contract extension, he was dealt to the Brewers at the 2008 deadline. He then delivered one of the most memorable second-half runs imaginable, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts for Milwaukee, including three outings on three days’ rest, and helping push the Brewers back to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.
That stretch clearly stayed with him. So when he talked up his “two teams,” Milwaukee made the cut. Cleveland didn’t.
For a franchise that hasn’t won a World Series since 1954, it was a sharp little jab from one of its most accomplished alumni.
In Other News...
Brewers Send A Clear NLDS Message With Latest Pitching Cut
The Brewers made another quick pitching move late in September, designating right-hander Lyon Richardson for assignment just two days after promoting him to the majors. It was a brief stay on the active roster for Richardson, who had already spent time in the organization before this latest call-up and was trying to carve out a spot as Milwaukee sorted through its pitching options down the stretch.
Richardson then chose free agency on Sept. 28 rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors, ending his latest run with the club after one big-league appearance in 2025. For Milwaukee, it was another reminder of how tightly the roster is being managed as the Brewers look to sharpen their pitching staff for October and keep every spot pointed toward the same postseason goal. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Drew A Dangerous NLDS Matchup At The Worst Time
The Brewers spent the final stretch of the regular season looking every bit like the No. 1 seed in the National League, but the reward for that work arrived with a tricky Oct. NLDS draw. San Diego rolled through the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series and now comes to Milwaukee with momentum, a pitching staff that has carried the Padres through October, and enough early offense to make a short series feel even shorter.
For Milwaukee, the timing is uncomfortable because the matchup lands right as the Padres are playing their best baseball. San Diego is expected to lean heavily on its bullpen while also lining up Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson and Robbie Ray for the series, giving the Brewers a difficult blend of power arms and recent results to sort through. The top seed still has home-field advantage, but the path to the next round suddenly looks a lot less predictable than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Betting Big On Two Young Arms Vs A Hot Padres Team
The Brewers are opening their postseason series against the Padres on Saturday with a strikingly young plan on the mound, handing Game 1 to Jacob Misiorowski and lining up Logan Henderson for Game 2 unless something changes. It is a confident call against a San Diego club that has been swinging it well, but Milwaukee has reason to trust the matchup after both right-handers handled the Padres during the regular season.
Misiorowski was dominant in May, throwing seven scoreless innings, and Henderson worked deep enough in August to keep the game manageable while allowing three earned runs over 6.1 innings. Now the Brewers are asking two of their young arms to set the tone in October against a hot opponent, and the early part of the series may say plenty about how far Milwaukees pitching gamble can carry them. [Read more 🡒]