--LHP Nate Robertson was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6 with a lower-back muscle strain, and the Tigers purchased the contract of LHP Luke French from their Class AAA Toledo farm club to replace him. Robertson reportedly suffered the strain working out last weekend. He was not in the bullpen Wednesday because of the strain and thus not available to pitch in a 14-10, 13-inning loss at Minnesota. Manager Jim Leyland said if the game had gone to a 14th inning his only available reserve, INF Ramon Santiago, would have been his pitcher. French, who warmed up Thursday but did not pitch, served as a starter for Toledo and in six games was 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 34 innings.
--2B Placido Polanco got a day off, with INF Ramon Santiago taking his place in the field at second in the batting order. Santiago's RBI double in the sixth broke a scoreless tie and he also had a single in the fourth. Santiago has prospered in a part-time role as the Tigers' backup middle infielder. --DH Jeff Larish was slotted fifth in the batting order, a reflection of his three home runs in his three previous games. He was 0-for-2 with a walk before being pinch-hit for in the eighth. Larish is likely to get plenty of playing time because he gives the club badly needed power.
--LHP Bobby Seay was holding left-handed hitters to a .167 batting average entering Thursday's game. It's a bit higher than that now. Seay came into a 5-0 game and gave up hits to left-handed hitters CF Denard Span, DH Justin Morneau and LF Jason Kubel. He also walked a batter and got left-handed-hitting C Joe Mauer to hit into a fielder's choice in his one-third of an inning. "Command was terrible. Pitch selection was brutal. I pretty much had nothing," Seay said.
--C Dane Sardinha was supposed to give C Gerald Laird two days off in an effort to clear his mind and shake a slump. Laird had to come in for late relief in both games. Sardinha took a foul ball off his right hand during Thursday's game and finally had to come out with two out in the seventh. Laird finished up and is expected to start Friday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
C Dane Sardinha (sore right hand) left the May 14 game.
LHP Nate Robertson (strained lower back) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6.
LHP Dontrelle Willis (anxiety disorder) went on the 15-day disabled list March 29. The disorder was diagnosed through blood tests. He made a rehab start for Class A Lakeland on April 21, and he started for Class AA Erie on April 26. He pitched for Class AAA Toledo on May 1 and May 6, and he was activated to start for Detroit on May 13.
LF/DH Carlos Guillen (left shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list May 5.
DH/OF Marcus Thames (left ribcage muscle strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He won't begin any physical activity for two to four weeks, and he will need a rehab assignment before returning to the Tigers.
RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right rib removal, blood clot surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He will begin a rehab assignment with Class A West Michigan on May 16.
C Matt Treanor (torn labrum in right hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 24. He had surgery April 30, and is likely out for the season.
ROTATION:
RHP Justin Verlander
RHP Edwin Jackson
RHP Armando Galarraga
RHP Rick Porcello
LHP Dontrelle Willis
BULLPEN:
RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)
RHP Joel Zumaya
RHP Brandon Lyon
LHP Bobby Seay
RHP Ryan Perry
RHP Zach Miner
LHP Lucas French
CATCHERS:
Gerald Laird
Dane Sardinha
INFIELDERS:
1B Miguel Cabrera
2B Placido Polanco
SS Adam Everett
3B Brandon Inge
INF Jeff Larish
INF Ramon Santiago
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Josh Anderson
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Magglio Ordonez
DH Clete Thomas
OF Ryan Raburn
