1. RHP Justin Verlander

2. RHP Edwin Jackson

3. RHP Armando Galarraga

4. RHP Rick Porcello

5. RHP Zach Miner

ROTATION ANALYSIS: Verlander made an adjustment to the way he lands (softening knee instead of landing stiff), and it seems to have taken -- he has looked more like the 35-game winner of his first two seasons than the 17-game loser he was last year. Jackson looks poised to take another big forward step in his career, while Galarraga might fall off from his excellent rookie year but still should be a winner.

On merit, Porcello made the Opening Day rotation, but the 125 innings he threw last summer mark the sum total of his pro experience.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman has had a problem-filled spring. First he had lingering shoulder soreness. Then, after that cleared up, his fastball topped out in the high 80s, and that won't let him be a dominating pitcher. He will open the season on the disabled list. LHP Nate Robertson strung together some scoreless innings toward the end of camp, but he was sent to the bullpen.

LHP Dontrelle Willis continues to have problems throwing strikes, making it hard for Detroit to avoid having to eat the last two years and $22 million of his contract. He is also on the DL.

BULLPEN:

RHP Brandon Lyon (closer)

RHP Fernando Rodney

LHP Bobby Seay

RHP Eddie Bonine

RHP Juan Rincon

LHP Nate Robertson

RHP Ryan Perry

BULLPEN ANALYSIS:

Manager Jim Leyland hasn't designated either Lyon or Rodney as his closer, which might mean he doesn't have one, and will use both in save situations. Miner probably will be used in long relief to keep his arm stretched out in case he needs to return to the rotation.

RHP Joel Zumaya will be on the disabled list to open the season but will bump someone when/if he's ready to pitch back-to-back games. Perry, a 2008 first-round draft choice, is a strong possibility to take Zumaya's place as a mid- or late-game shut-down pitcher.

Rookie Casey Fien might be called up at some point if the veterans can't do the job.

LINEUP:

1. CF Curtis Granderson

2. 2B Placido Polanco

3. RF Magglio Ordonez

4. 1B Miguel Cabrera

5. LF Carlos Guillen

6. DH Marcus Thames

7. C Gerald Laird

8. 3B Brandon Inge

9. SS Adam Everett

LINEUP ANALYSIS: Predictions of 1,000 runs after Cabrera was obtained for the 2008 season proved to be wildly optimistic, but it's still an outfit that can thump.

Much will depend on what the bottom of the order can do, whether Sheffield can still be a threat, if Laird can approximate his road numbers (near .300) last year with Texas and whether Inge can re-learn how to hit the ball where it's pitched. If the last three hitters do nothing but make outs all season, it's going to be a long season.

Ordonez is reaching the point in his career where he might need more rest, and Guillen has had problems the last two years with his back, knees and hamstrings.

It's a lineup that will need to be "youthanized" soon -- but not quite yet. Jim Leyland is a manager who likes to use his bench a lot, and the number of aging veterans in this lineup makes that a necessity.

RESERVES:

C Matt Treanor

INF Jeff Larish

INF Ramon Santiago

OF Josh Anderson

RESERVES ANALYSIS: Treanor was dogged all spring by groin muscle problems blamed on his sports hernia surgery of last year. Santiago is an excellent glove man with speed and a strong arm, but his tendency to get pull-happy sometimes hurts him. Anderson, acquired in a March 30 trade with the Braves, will back up all of the outfielders.

UT Ryan Raburn figures to see time with the Tigers at some point. OF Clete Thomas is a possibility for an in-season call-up because he can play all three outfield positions with skill and is a left-handed hitter.

ROOKIE WATCH: If the organization's last two No. 1 picks -- RHP Rick Porcello (2007) and RHP Ryan Perry (2008) -- don't make the Opening Day roster, they are certain to appear before midseason after both showed in spring training that talent can trump inexperience. INF/OF Jeff Larish impressed as a pinch hitter during two brief trails last season and looked during spring training as if he could fill that role and more as soon as possible. He would provide the club badly needed left-handed punch. RHP Casey Fien will be ready if the bullpen needs help. LHP Casey Crosby (5th, 2007) is coming back from Tommy John surgery, throwing in the mid-90s, and is someone who could advance quickly despite only three games of rookie league experience late last year.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Dontrelle Willis (anxiety disorder) went on the 15-day disabled list March 29. The disorder was diagnosed through blood tests, and there was no timetable for his return. Willis, for his part, didn't understand the diagnosis and said he felt fine.

RHP Joel Zumaya (right shoulder soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He will remain in camp to work minor league games until he shows he can pitch back-to-back games successfully.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right rib removal, blood clot surgery in June 2008) went on the disabled list retroactive to March 30. He won't return until he nudges his fastball back up 90 mph on a consistent basis.