Alex Rodriguez’s Final Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays 8/12

Here we go Yankees family. In a little over seven hours the first pitch will be thrown in the final game of Alex Rodriguez’s long, illustrious and tumultuous career. It’s only fitting that Alex retire with his final game coming in the Bronx but it begs the question, could he not have waited until tomorrow? I mean he has worn #13 since joining the Yankees back in 2004 and tomorrow is the 13^th but I doubt he put that much thought and effort into it. I’m a numbers guy so I did. Anyway tonight the Yankees will begin a series with the Tampa Bay Rays with Chris Archer taking the mound to face Alex and the bombers. Opposing Archer for the Yankees will be CC Sabathia. I know Alex is far from Derek Jeter, and in some ways and in some circles that may be a good thing, but you have to think he does something tonight, right? Hits a home run, drives in the game-winning RBI, something. I can’t see our last image of Alex Rodriguez being a four strikeout game and being pinch hit or pinch run for late in the game. Wishful thinking maybe, I don’t know.

Sabathia has hit a skid lately after starting off the season so well which is evident by the fact that the veteran lefty has logged just one victory in his last nine starts. During that time period Sabathia has posted a 1-5 record with a 6.62 ERA and in the two starts in that span that came in the month of August Sabathia has yet to make it out of the sixth inning. All that mixed with the fact that he is facing off against Chris Archer could make this a long game tonight for New York and their fans.

Archer heads into this start fresh off a victory over the Minnesota Twins last time out where he threw six quality innings for the Rays. In Archer’s last five starts he has lasted at least seven innings in three of them despite leading Major League Baseball in losses with 15. That’s definitely more a product of the offense and defense behind him though and less to do with the fact that Archer just hasn’t pitched all that well.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, FOX and MLB TV. Alex has had 15 at bats against Archer in his career heading into tonight’s contest and has just two hits and three RBI against the Rays ace, both of those hits were home runs though. His stats against Archer are not impressive to be fair, a .133 batting average against the righty is evidence of that, but to be fair who has hit Archer well in their careers? Probably not many. One last time Mr. Rodriguez, leave it all out on the field. The fans will appreciate it and so will the team. One last time. Go Yankees!