ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez last started a game for the New York Yankees on July 22. He will play Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays -- batting cleanup, no less -- but after that, he is likely to disappear from the Yankees lineup until Wednesday night at the earliest, when the Mets start a lefty, Steven Matz, at Yankee Stadium.
After that, it is anyone's guess when he will be back on the field. As Joe Girardi said before Saturday's game, "I understand the situation, but to get more at-bats, you have to be productive.