NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez will start the New York Yankees' biggest game of the year on the bench.
After being pinch hit for in Games 3 and 4 against the Baltimore Orioles, the $275 million third baseman was removed from the starting lineup for Game 5 on Friday.
Eric Chavez is set to start at third base, while Game 3 star Raul Ibanez will be the designated hitter in the winner-take-all series finale.
The 37-year-old Rodriguez is 2-for-16 (.125) with zero RBIs and nine strikeouts in the series. With runners on second and third and one out in the eighth inning of a 1-1 game Thursday night, he struck out against side-arming right-hander Darren O'Day. Baltimore went on to win 2-1 in 13 innings.
Since helping New York win the 2009 World Series, Rodriguez is 10-for-66 (.152) with no homers and six RBIs in postseason play. He hasn't homered in 84 at-bats since Sept. 14.
Click here to see what Joe Girardi had to say about benching Alex Rodriguez >>