GDT: 4/22/08 - Detroit (7-13) vs Texas (7-13) - 7:05 p.m. ET

TORONTO -- The Tigers can breathe a collective sigh of relief, with news on Monday afternoon that Placido Polanco's back injury isn't as bad as initially feared.

Detroit's second baseman underwent an MRI on Sunday, and the results came back revealing no structural damage. He has been placed on medication and is currently listed as day-to-day.

"He might be able to play tomorrow if he's all right," manager Jim Leyland said on Monday, following the Tigers' 5-1 win over the Blue Jays. "He might be ready to play, I don't know. They said [the medication] could work right away and make him feel good.

"There was some inflammation there. That's what they found out. But no dysfunctional stuff, no muscular problems, no nerve problems. So that's really good news."

If Polanco is unable to go, the starting second-base duties will once again fall to Ryan Raburn, who has done an admirable job filling in for Detroit's All-Star so far this season.

"We obviously miss Polanco, because he's a big part of this team," said Raburn, who is hitting .267 through 10 games this season. "I'm just trying to fill in and do as good of a job as I can for however long I'm needed there."

Raburn made his Major League debut in 2004, but it wasn't until the second half of last season that he really got an opportunity to showcase his skills. The 27-year-old played in 49 games and batted .304 with four home runs and 27 RBIs.

"I feel pretty good," Raburn said about his start to 2008. "I'm just trying to get a consistent approach that will give me the best chance of having success and see what happens after that. If I can do that and go out there and make all the plays defensively, hopefully that will help get us back on a winning streak."

The Tigers will be going for their second win in a row on Tuesday, when they open a three-game series at Comerica Park against the Rangers. Right-hander Justin Verlander will get the call for the series opener.

Prior to this season, Detroit had never lost more than two of Verlander's starts in a row. Now his outings account for four of the Tigers' losses, with the latest one coming against the Indians. Verlander struggled with his control in that start against Cleveland, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and four walks over five innings.

The Rangers will counter with veteran right-hander Vicente Padilla. The 30-year-old surrendered just two earned runs over seven innings in his last start against the Blue Jays.


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (0-3, 7.03 ERA)
Verlander is 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four career starts against Texas.
He has had success against almost everyone in the Rangers' lineup,
especially first baseman Ben Broussard, who has a lifetime .235 average
(4-for-17) against Verlander.

TEX: RHP Vicente Padilla (2-1, 3.12 ERA)
Padilla is a perfect 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts against
Detroit. Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has enjoyed some success
against the veteran righty, though. Cabrera has two home runs, a double
and three RBIs in 16 career at-bats.

Tidbits

In Monday's win, Ivan Rodriguez contributed four hits and an RBI, while Edgar Renteria added a solo blast, his third of the season, in the sixth.

Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez is one RBI shy of reaching 1,000 in his Major League career. ... Detroit has been successful in all 10 of its stolen base attempts this season. Dating back to Sept. 18, the team has been successful in each of its last 20 attempts. ... Detroit has collected 83 walks through the first 20 games of the season, which ranks third in the American League.

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

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Wednesday: Rangers (Luis Mendoza, 0-2, 9.00) at Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 1-3, 6.33), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Thursday: Rangers (Jason Jennings, 0-3, 7.08) at Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman, 1-2, 4.37), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Friday: Angels (Ervin Santana, 3-0, 2.67) at Tigers (Nate Robertson, 0-2, 7.48), 7:05 p.m. ET

Well, if Polanco comes back nice and healthy, we should be ok.

Tonight's Lineup

(0-3, 7.03 ERA) vs. Vicente Padilla (2-1, 3.12 ERA)

Rangers
2B Kinsler
SS Young
CF Hamilton
DH Bradley
3B Blalock
LF Catalanotto
RF Murphy
C Laird
1B Brousard

Tigers
CF
C :pudge:
1B
RF
DH
LF :jjones:
SS :edgar:
3B
2B

Verlander has to get his first win tonight!

It will be 72 degrees at Game Time; Feels like April in Texas; The Rangers will feel right at home.


I hate Texas! And Texas Like Weather!


Bunch of morons!


Rangers Suck! The Lone Inbred State!

Im just hoping Verlander can get his first win today!!

gdennis59 wrote:

Im just hoping Verlander can get his first win today!!

Me Too!

Me All of Us!!!

I think once Justin gets in the groove he will be unstoppable.

I think tonight he will find it!

I think once the Tigers get a new pitching coach, Verlander and most of the other pitchers will be good again.

I hope someone finds out why Verlander was ok at the start of ST and now has not had control. Is this another Chuck H. pitching coach experiment?

bobrob2004 wrote:

I think once the Tigers get a new pitching coach, Verlander and most of the other pitchers will be good again.

Tell me about it. The Tigers pitching staff leads in giving up walks. That is horrible.

detigersfan06 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

I think once the Tigers get a new pitching coach, Verlander and most of the other pitchers will be good again.

Tell me about it. The Tigers pitching staff leads in giving up walks. That is horrible.

I know, it's like Hernandez' theory is to not throw strikes. So far it's not working...

Lets go tigers! I think Verlander with get it together today.

(0-3, 7.03 ERA) vs. Vicente Padilla (2-1, 3.12 ERA)

Rangers
2B Kinsler
SS Young
CF Hamilton
DH Bradley
3B Blalock
LF Catalanotto
RF Murphy
C Laird
1B Brousard

Tigers
CF
C :pudge:
1B
RF
DH
LF :jjones:
SS :edgar:
3B
2B

maybe Magglio needs a day off?

someone voted no... someone doesn't have much faith

Let the game begin!

One out.

K!

Botts isn't in the lineup for Texas - we'll win for sure!

two out single

I didn't vote yet!

Bradley singles

Inning finally over!

Blalock K

Clete on third. one out. guillen at bat.