Yankees say Alex Rodriguez will start series finale Thursday

Alex Rodriguez's final series at Fenway Park will begin with a view from the bench.

New York Yankeesmanager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that Rodriguez will not start in either of the team's first two games against theRed Sox in Boston, but will start Thursday in the series finale.

Rodriguez announced Sunday that he intends to play his final game Friday night at Yankee Stadium, when New York hosts the Tampa Bay Rays.

A-Rod, hitting just .204 in 2016, is a career .150 hitter against the Red Sox's scheduled Tuesday night starter, right-hander Rick Porcello.