CC Sabathia Checks Into Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, Molina Back For Playoffs

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is checking himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center and will miss the postseason, he announced Monday.

"Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease," Sabathia said in a statement. "I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series.

"It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player."

The Yankees host the Houston Astros in the AL wild-card game Tuesday night.

"CC has demonstrated a great deal of courage in trying to tackle this problem," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Time and place have no bearing. There is something here that needs to be taken care of, and I applaud him."

Molina Will Attempt To Play In NL Division Series

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will try to play in the NL Division Series while wearing a splint to protect his injured left thumb.

Molina, a seven-time All-Star widely considered the best defensive catcher in the game, met with a hand specialist on Monday.

Molina partially tore a ligament on Sept. 20 making a tag at the plate and hasn't played since. St. Louis said the injury was still present, and he will test the splint during workouts the next few days.

General manager John Mozeliak said Molina, 33, was feeling stronger and added he was "still optimistic" Molina would be on the postseason roster.