Mariano Rivera Announces He Won’t Play in Yankees Final Games of the Season Against Astros

WFAN, in New York, and other media outlets are reporting Saturday evening that New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera won't appear in either of the Yankees final games of the season in Houston.

Rivera made the comments to reporters before Saturday's game against the Houston Astros.  It was assumed that Rivera would make at least one appearance in the Yankees final three games of the season at the Astros.

Instead, Rivera made a tear-filled final appearance Thursday night at Yankee Stadium in the Yankees final home game of 2013. The Yankees ended up losing that game 4-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 2013 season is Mariano Rivera's final season in the major leagues. He's pitched 19 seasons in the majors, all for the Yankees.  Rivera's earned 652 saves and been a part of five World Series winning teams for the Yankees. He is also the final player in MLB history to wear the jersey number 42.