CC Sabathia will propel Yankees to World Series berth

Win or go home. It’s as simple as that. In a postseason where the Yankees continue to rise above having their backs against the wall, they’ll turn to the only man who makes sense, CC Sabathia.

Right now is no time to get discouraged. Do not make alternate plans for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. Stay the course, keep the faith and if all goes to plan, the Yankees will be winging their way to the coast tomorrow afternoon.

I mean, why should we be surprised Game 7 of the ALCS is a thing?

Most every baseball pundit predicted Justin Verlander would silence the Bombers’ bats. And even though he did give up a myriad of base hits, that’s all they were.

In the sixth inning, with two men on and a 3-0 count to Gary Sanchez, the Yanks had their best chance to get back in the game. Unfortunately, manager Joe Girardi gave El Gary the green light — which resulted in a weakly hit ground ball for the inning-ending third out.

Luis Severino was just as dominant… for four innings. But then a pair of walks in the fifth rattled his cage. David Robertson entered the contest and for the first time since joining the Yankees from the White Sox at the end of July, looked human.

For some odd reason, Astros manager AJ Hinch decided to use his closer, Ken Giles, to close the ninth with a 7-1 lead. Some 23 pitches later, and well, let’s hope this move comes back to haunt the ‘Stros.

As we ready ourselves for the deciding game of this antacid filled ALCS, it’s a calming thought that Sabathia is now 10-0 with a 1.69 ERA following Yankee losses this season.

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As for this playoff-run, the 2009 World Series Champion has a 2.30 ERA over 15.2 innings pitched, highlighted by six scoreless frames in his Game 3 victory.

Sabathia refused to mince words with ESPN when it came to his expectations for the pivotal game of this series.

"“It’s been a tough road, not being in the playoffs for a long time and going through my personal things,” Sabathia said. “It will feel good to get out there and have an opportunity to try and pitch this team to the World Series.”"

Once again, Sabathia will square off against right-hander Charlie Morton, who allowed six hits, six earned runs and two walks in just 3.2 innings in Game 3.

While Morton pitched better at home (10-3, 3.34 ERA) than on the road (4-4, 4.17 ERA) this season, if he again lets the Yankees jump on his first-pitch fastball, as Starlin Castro, Aaron Hicks and Todd Frazier did last time out — the results may very well be the same.

The only result this writer expects to draw suit is another stellar performance from a man desperate for another shot at immortality. Will this lead to a Yankees victory and the right to take on the Dodgers for the 12th time in World Series history?

My thoughts stand with Brett Gardner.

Next: Birth of the next great Yankees dynasty

"“He [Sabathia] has the ability to take things slow and take things one pitch at a time. He has pitched in quite a few big games in his career and, I’ve said before, there is nobody we would rather have on the mound than him.”"