Alex Rodriguez is out of the Yankees' lineup for Game 5.

Just let that sink in for a second. ... A-Rod isn't in the Yankees' lineup in a do-or-die game.

There had been speculation for most of the series that Rodriguez would be left out of the lineup at some point.

He was lifted for pinch-hitters in the ninth inning of Game 3 and the 13th inning of Game 4. Raul Ibañez came through with two homers in place of Rodriguez in Game 3. Eric Chavez lined out in place of Rodriguez in Game 4.

On the series, A-Rod is 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts.

It's worth noting that Rodriguez is 8-for-22 with four homers and nine RBI against Orioles starter Jason Hammel over his career in the regular season.

Here's the full Yankees lineup for Game 5, with Chavez at third and Ibañez at DH:

Derek Jeter SS

Ichiro Suzuki LF

Robinson Cano 2B

Mark Teixeira 1B

Raul Ibañez DH

Nick Swisher RF

Curtis Granderson CF

Russell Martin C

Eric Chavez 3B

CC Sabathia LHP