Rivera Unlikely To Pitch For The Yanks This Weekend

The Yankees only have two games left this season, and they'll most likely be playing without their longtime closer Mariano Rivera.

Rivera hasn't pitched since his Yankee Stadium sendoff on Thursday when he retired the first four Tampa Bay Rays hitters he faced before two of his closest friends, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, came walking out of the dugout with two outs in the 9th to retrieve Rivera from the ballgame -- likely for the final time.

Prior to tonight's game at Minute Maid Park, Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters that Mariano told him he's not pitching tonight, and there's a very good chance to he won't be available tomorrow -- unless he changes his mind.

"I think that is a big part of it," Girardi said about Thursday's magical moment effecting Mo's choice not to play against the Astros this weekend. "That was a special night for him the way it unfolded. He wants it to end that way."

Girardi also said that it's very unlikely that Rivera with get the opportunity to live out his dream of playing in center field. So we can all stop talking about that now -- although I was really hoping for it to happen.

“I don't think we're probably going to see that as well,” Girardi said. “At least I gave him the opportunity. It’s his decision.”

Last night, in the Yankees' 3-2 win over the Astros, David Robertson -- the likely 2014 Opening Day closer -- closed out the 9th inning for the Bombers, setting down the 'Stros to seal the victory.

So, unless Mo changes his mind, we've pretty much seen the last of Mariano Rivera pitching for the New York Yankees.

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