Alex Rodriguez benched again for Game 4 of ALCS

The Yankees did not have a change of heart overnight.

Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson were out of the lineup Wednesday night for Game 4 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers. That game was postponed due to rain, but Manager Joe Girardi has opted to go with the same card when the game is made up Thursday afternoon.

That leaves Rodriguez on the bench for the third time in nine postseason games. It also means that the highest-paid player in baseball won’t be starting for the Yankees in an elimination game.

Rodriguez is three for 23 with no extra-base hits or RBIs this postseason and 0 for 18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitchers. All of Detroit’s playoff rotation, including Game 4 starter Max Scherzer, is right-handed.

He isn’t the only New York player struggling at the plate. Granderson is three for 29 with 15 strikeouts in the playoffs after hitting 43 home runs with 106 RBIs during the regular season.

Nick Swisher, who was benched in Game 3, is set to start Thursday. Eric Chavez will start at third in place of Rodriguez and Brett Gardner will take Granderson’s place in center field.

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