The New York Yankees‘ 2026 MLB season starts March 25 with their Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants. While Aaron Boone and Co. get their campaign started out west, the question is whether this is the start of a journey that ends with them raising a World Series trophy.
New York is running almost the same team back as last season, hoping their postseason fate is better. After winning 94 games a year ago, the Yankees fell in the ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays, falling short of reaching the World Series, which they did in 2024.
Moreover, another postseason without a title extended the Yankees’ World Series drought, as it’s approaching 20 years since the pinstripes last won a championship in 2009.
One of the players on that team was CC Sabathia, and during his March 25 appearance on “Up & Adams,” he was asked about the Yankees’ chances of winning the World Series in 2026 and ending their drought, a drought he believes they can end due to their pitching.
“It feels like a team that can [win a World Series] with all the pitching that they have,” Sabathia said. “It’s just about that lineup staying healthy. If Max Fried, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler can hold it down until Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole get back.
“I think a name that nobody’s really talking about, a pitcher that they’ll get back sometime this summer, is Clarke Schmidt. So their pitching is really deep. Having a chance to even have some of those guys go to the bullpen to help out, I think it’s just going to, you know, add to whatever they can do down the stretch.”
CC Sabathia Wants Yankees Lineup to Stay Healthy
Furthermore, Sabathia noted that his only concern is about the Yankees’ lineup and whether they can stay healthy to produce the runs to back up their pitching.
“For me, it’s just about that lineup staying healthy,” Sabathia added. “Obviously, we know [Aaron] Judge is going to do what he’s going to do. But if [Giancarlo Stanton] can play 120 games and get in there and do his thing and hit 20 to 30 homers, I think they’ll have a chance to really make some noise in October.”
Ben Rice Lands Big Prediction for 2026 Season
Although Sabathia didn’t mention him, another player who could play a major role for New York is Ben Rice. Ahead of the 2026 season, WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer predicts that Rice will outperform his home run total from last season.
“The guy that I’m looking at to have a monster breakout year, Ben Rice,” Lugauer said in a March 24 video from WFAN. “I think Ben Rice, and this is a bold one, but I think Ben Rice is going to hit 40 home runs. He’s that talented. When it’s all said and done and the dust settles on this season, Aaron Judge will have another MVP‑type year. That goes without saying.”
Moreover, Lugauer isn’t focusing only on the home run total; as part of his prediction, he sees Rice emerging as the Yankees’ No. 2 guy behind Aaron Judge this season, meaning the 27-year-old could catapult himself into stardom.
“It will be Ben Rice who settles in as the second‑best player on the New York Yankees, and I think he gets the 40 home runs,” Lugauer added. “I think he’s that skilled, and I believe he will surpass Cody Bellinger as the second‑best player on the New York Yankees, the Robin to Aaron Judge’s Batman, if you will. So I’m anticipating a monster 40‑home‑run season from Ben.”
CC Sabathia Doesn’t Hold Back on Yankees’ World Series Hopes