Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Alex Rodriguez remained out of the lineup for
the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series
against Detroit.
The embattled third baseman was also benched for Game 3 on Tuesday and was not
in the lineup Wednesday before Game 4 was postponed and pushed back to
Thursday.
Rodriguez went just 1-for-7 in the first two games of the ALCS at Yankee
Stadium and is a mere 3-for-23 in the postseason. He's also struggled against
right-handed pitching in the playoffs, going 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts.
The Tigers, trying to sweep the four-game set, are set to start right-hander
Max Scherzer on Thursday.
Eric Chavez will again take Rodriguez's spot at third base. Chavez is hitless
in 14 at-bats during the postseason and made an error during Game 3 that led
to Detroit's second run in a 2-1 Tigers win.
The Yankees will face elimination on Thursday, weather permitting, without
their leading home run hitter from the regular season. Curtis Granderson, who
finished 2012 with 43 homers, also remained benched for the first time this
postseason. Just 3-for-29 in eight playoff games, Granderson was out of the
lineup when it was posted Wednesday and is still sitting.
Nick Swisher, benched for Game 3, was back in the lineup in right field and
batting second. Brett Gardner, who played left field in Game 3 while Ichiro
Suzuki switched to Swisher's normal place in right, was still in the lineup
and set to play center field in place of Granderson on Thursday.
Rodriguez's future with the Yankees has also become the subject of much
speculation. Reports surfaced Wednesday that the Yankees have talked to the
Miami Marlins about a potential trade.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman shot down those rumors on Wednesday.
The Sports Network