GDT: 8/13/08 - DET (58-61) VS TOR (61-59) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield reportedly went on waivers on Tuesday afternoon. Then he went yard on Tuesday night.

While what is normally a procedural move put the Tiger slugger's future into question, Tuesday brought another glimpse of what affect he can have on a game when he's healthy. Of the three home runs the Tigers hit off of the normally nasty A.J. Burnett, Sheffield hit two of them, his first multihomer game of the season. Both came on Burnett's powerful fastball, and both were well connected on pitches that Sheffield had been fouling off at times when he was battling shoulder problems earlier in the year.

One game doesn't make for a healthy hitter. In Sheffield's case, however, it makes for a reminder of what he can do. If he can keep doing it, the Tigers could have a power boost on their hands -- if he remains a Tiger.

An ESPN.com report included Sheffield among several Tigers placed on waivers Tuesday. Most teams place several players on waivers after the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline to gauge potential trade interest. In the Tigers' case, the move came one day after manager Jim Leyland said he was "flabbergasted" by comments Sheffield made to the Boston Globe calling his job a platoon role and repeating his frustrations about being a designated hitter.

Though any team can claim a player for 48 hours after he's placed on waivers, the Tigers could let them do so and assume the remainder of Sheffield's contract, including a $14 million salary for next season. Assuming he clears waivers, he's available for trade, but his recent performance before Tuesday combined with the contract could make a trade difficult.

Sheffield entered Tuesday mired in an 0-for-10 slump, a 1-for-15 homestand and a .225 batting average since the All-Star break, all of which contributed to the round of boos he had been receiving at home games with each out.

Though Sheffield didn't comment after the game, he might well have taken out some frustrations on two Burnett pitches on Tuesday. After working a full count with two outs in the second, Sheffield pounced on a 97-mph rising fastball over the plate, driving it an estimated 395 feet to left for his 11th home run of the year.

That earned him one of the best compliments he has received all season.

"That's the Sheffield that I knew right there," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "You get a high fastball and he's going to jump on it. He hit that first ball just like Hank Aaron used to hit home runs. That's the Sheffield that I'm used to seeing."

Four innings later, he worked a 3-0 count against Burnett before driving a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats.

"That was tremendous," Leyland said. "He just had a huge night. Not many guys can get on top of that first one he hit. When you get on top of that and hit it like that, there's not many people who can do that. What an encouraging sign that was."

Whether that's the Sheffield the Tigers will see down the stretch remains to be seen. He had connected for two home runs over his previous seven games, but he had just three singles in his other 31 at-bats for the month heading into Tuesday.

Leyland, for his part, said any controversy over Sheffield's comments were over and done. What it means for Sheffield's future is a mystery, but home runs like Tuesday could make for a short memory.


Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Kenny Rogers (8-9, 4.92 ERA)
Rogers couldn't gather career win No. 219 against the A's in his last start, but much of that had to do with a lack of run support. He allowed three earned runs in seven innings and earned a loss. Rogers has endured a tough stretch. In his last three starts, he has allowed 15 earned runs, jumping his ERA almost half a run. Rogers owns a 15-9 career against the Blue Jays. He faced them once this season, allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings to get the win.


TOR: LHP David Purcey (1-3, 7.40 ERA)
Although he absorbed the loss while facing the Indians in his last start, Purcey tossed what was arguably the best game of his brief career. In just his fifth Major League start, the left-hander allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out a career-high eight batters, needing 97 pitches.

Tidbits

The Tigers likely will know more about reliever Joel Zumaya's status on Wednesday. Zumaya was checked out by a team doctor after he struggled, taking the loss on Tuesday, furthering suspicions that something isn't right with his arm or his pitches. ...

Magglio Ordonez enters Wednesday's game with a season-high 11-game hitting streak. ...

Outfielder Marcus Thames remains day-to-day with inflammation in his right shoulder. He's expected back in time for this weekend's series against the Orioles. ...

Reliever Todd Jones is slated to face hitters on Wednesday in what could be his final tuneup before he's likely activated from the 15-day disabled list, as soon as Friday. ...

Alex Rios is 9-for-22 (.409) for his career against Rogers with three doubles and five RBIs. Vernon Wells is 12-for-39 (.308) off Rogers with two doubles, one home run and six RBIs.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Thurs., Aug 14: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (10-4, 3.23 ERA)) vs. Blue Jays (RHP Jesse Litsch (8-7, 4.46 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Fri., Aug 15: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (7-8, 5.84 ERA)) vs. Orioles (LHP Chris Waters (1-0, 4.50 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., Aug 16: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (8-13, 4.77 ERA)) vs. Orioles (RHP Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 5.16 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Toronto AVG
Scutaro, 3B .258
Eckstein, 2B .266
Rios, CF .281
Wells, V, DH .289
Barajas, C .261
Lind, LF .300
Overbay, 1B .267
Mench, RF .233
McDonald, SS .212

Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .298
:placido: Polanco, 2B .313
Ordonez, RF .318
Cabrera, 1B .296
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .223
:ryan: Raburn, LF .252
:edgar: Renteria, SS .262
Inge, C .222
Santiago, 3B .328

first post updated

76 degrees


Mostly Cloudy at Game Time

Slight chance of a early shower

Light Winds



GO TIGERS

Lineup listed above

Scutaro - grounds out

Eckstein - doubles

Rios - pops out

Wells walks

Barajas 3 outs

Beautiful catch by Raburn!

:curtis: flies out

:placido: walks after 10 throws

Polly steals 2nd

end of 1st

0-0

Lind - singles

Overbay -

Mench - flies out

McDonald - grounds out

:sheff: pops out

:ryan: flies out

:edgar: walks

flies out

end of 2 innings

0-0

Scutaro - walk

Eckstein - bunt single

(was tagged out on replay but is a single)

Rios singles to load bases

Wells - grand slam homer

Jays 4-0

Barajas grounds out

Lind -