GDT: 4/20/08 - Detroit (6-12) @ Toronto ( 9-9 ) - 1:07 p.m.

TORONTO -- Nate Robertson will make his start as originally planned when the Tigers visit the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

The Detroit left-hander exited his previous outing against the Twins after experiencing tightness in his left lateral muscles. Robertson has since been feeling much better, the muscles have loosened and he expects to make his scheduled appearance without any physical complications.

Robertson had been enjoying one of his most successful starts of the season. He experienced the discomfort during the latter stages of the sixth inning against the Twins.

The 30-year-old finished the inning and came back out to start the seventh.

The tightness that Robertson has been experiencing affects him most when he throws a slider. The muscles react in such a way that it's difficult for Robertson to get full extension on the pitch, and it's uncertain whether he'll be able to effectively throw it for strikes. On Saturday afternoon Robertson said he did not think it would play a factor in his outing.

The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander A.J. Burnett. The 31-year-old was originally scheduled to pitch the series opener on Friday night, but he was pushed back two days after being forced to make a relief appearance during a 14-inning game against the Rangers on Wednesday.

In his previous start, Burnett left after 5 2/3 innings having surrendered four runs on seven hits while striking out three.

The Tigers are expected to have second baseman Placido Polanco back in the lineup. Polanco sat out Saturday afternoon's affair to rest his sore left hip flexor, which has been causing him soreness in his lower back.


Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (0-1, 7.02 ERA)
Robertson is 3-2 with a 4.46 ERA in seven career appearances against Toronto. His biggest nemesis in the Blue Jays' lineup has been second baseman Aaron Hill, who is hitting .500 (7-for-14) with two home runs and three RBIs in his career against Robertson. On the opposite side of things is Jays left fielder Shannon Stewart, who has a lifetime average of just .167 (4-for-24) against Detroit's lefty.

TOR: RHP A.J. Burnett (1-1, 9.88 ERA)
Burnett is starting his third full season in the American League. He has faced the Tigers just three times over his career and possesses a 1-1 record with a 9.98 ERA. Despite those numbers, many of the Tigers have struggled gainst the Toronto righty. One of the few who have experienced success is catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who sports a .429 (3-for-7) lifetime average against Burnett.


Tidbits

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis did a light jog before Saturday's game. Willis, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a hyperextended right knee, still does not have a set timetable for when he will be able to make a rehab appearance. ... Injured center fielder Curtis Granderson made his first rehab start of the season on Friday night and went 2-for-4 with an infield single and a triple with Class A West Michigan. He was moved up to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. Granderson was originally hoping to re-join the Tigers on Monday in Toronto but manager Jim Leyland said the possibility of that was "unlikely." A more likely scenario would be Granderson being brought up to the Major Leagues by mid-week.


On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 1-0, 2.70) at Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum, 2-0, 2.61), 12:37 p.m. ET

• Tuesday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-3, 7.03) vs. Rangers (Vicente Padilla, 2-1, 3.12), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Wednesday: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 1-3, 6.33) vs. Rangers (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET

TEAM LINEUPS

Detroit AVG
Thomas, CF .271
Rodriguez, C .246
Guillen, DH .379
Ordonez, RF .284
Cabrera, 1B .281
Jones, J, LF .184
Renteria, SS .292
Raburn, 2B .375
Inge, 3B .286

Toronto AVG
Eckstein, SS .273
Hill, 2B .314
Rios, RF .324
Wells, V, CF .311
Barajas, DH .273
Scutaro, LF .188
Overbay, 1B .262
Zaun, C .239
McDonald, 3B .091

GO TIGERS! BEAT THE BLUE JAYS!

Will anyone be able to give me updates?

I won't be home until after 2:00 or 2:30

Dang, so I cant really do anything about it, ok well start talking to me then if you can.

Not sure what's goin' on guys....FSN Detroit has currently no feed here.

I got nothing too! What the Fuck?

Unless i try to get the radio

Haha, I think thats the first time I heard gs cuss.

This is bullshit!

All the other channels are working! Except FSN

Gonna have to listen to it on radio! What time is the Wings Game on?

I'm warmin' up DH's computer for MLB.tv

Is everyone else having this problem?

BLACKED OUT ON MLB.TV!!!

What the hell is going on here? This is bullcrap

got it on radio

SJKDJKSDJFKSJDFK WTF STUPID FSN!! FUCKING BLOODY VAGINAL BELCHES!!! I WANT TO WATCHHHH

what i can gather, not good so far. No out so far. Runner at 3rd

Radio for me! Red Wings game is on at 3pm on NBC

Nately in trouble already.
Hey, the Jays released Frank Thomas at noon today!

GO WINGS! GO TIGERS! AND GO PISTONS!

Sh*t. 1-0 Toronto

I heard; Rod and Mario were talking about it when FSN went on the fritz

COME ON NATE!!!WAKE UP!!!

Maybe the Tigers should sign the Big Hurt?

laprimamirala wrote:

Nately in trouble already.
Hey, the Jays released Frank Thomas at noon today!

We'll take him!

Let's GO!

2 outs now, Nately struck Wells out