New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia will miss the postseason after checking into a rehab centre for alcohol addiction on Monday. The news came a day before the Yankees take on the Houston Astros in an American League wildcard match on Tuesday night.

Sabathia’s announcement came out of the blue with little information about what finally made him choose to go into rehab, especially at this point of the season.

In August, a video surfaced of the pitcher involved in a verbal altercation outside a night a club in Toronto. He was pushed into a car by friends before a brawl later ensued outside the nightclub. According to the NY Post, however, Sabathia was binge-drinking during a trip to Baltimore last weekend.

"Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation centre to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease. 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," Sabathia announced in a statement via ESPN.

Sabathia won the Cy Young award back in 2007, and along with Alex Rodriguez, led the Yankees to the World Series title back in 2009. This year, however, has been one of the worst seasons in his career, with an ERA of 4.73 and giving up 28 home runs, going just 6-10 in 29 games he opened for the team.

The 35-year-old is scheduled to make $25 million next year and is expected to return when the pre-season starts in February 2016, while he also has an option to stay for 2017 that will come into effect if he does not injure his shoulder. Masahiro Tanaka is expected to replace Sabathia as starting pitcher for the wildcard game against Houston.

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