GDT: 8/29/09 - DET (68-59) VS TB (69-58) - 4:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Nate Robertson now can say with certainty that he feels a difference in his arm after surgery. Saturday will help tell if hitters notice a difference, too.

A year ago at this point, the Tigers pulled Robertson from their rotation in part because he had lost the confidence to attack hitters with the stuff he had. His slider didn't have the same bite, his fastball was slowing and his head was hanging.

Now, as Robertson readies to return from the disabled list with a network televised matchup with the Rays on FOX Saturday Baseball, the anticipation in his voice is difficult to miss. He isn't trying to win a regular job back and isn't seeing this as an audition, but the opportunity to start in the middle of a pennant race clearly means something to him.

Add in the FOX broadcast, with Kenny Albert and Mark Grace on the call, and it's a big stage.

It's the opportunity he has wanted since Spring Training, when he openly wondered whether his days as a Tiger might be done when he didn't make the rotation, but it's in a far better situation than he might've expected. In some ways, it feels like a season debut for him, even though he was pitching out of the bullpen as recently as late June, before he elected to have four tissue masses removed from his elbow.

It's literally a new start, even if Robertson isn't thinking beyond Saturday.

"What's gone on with me, it's been pretty heavy, not just this year but last year," Robertson said. "I know we all shared a pretty miserable season together [last year], but me personally, I didn't have a good year. It started back in '07. I got put on the DL with a tired arm. Whatever was going on with me affected the way I thought about how I was pitching, what was going on with my arm, what kind of stuff was coming out of it, whether it was being restricted.

"Now that I've had this done, it was really perfect timing to have the surgery. The team's been doing good. It was the perfect time to do this and put myself in the best position to maybe contribute here."

This current position came open when Armando Galarraga came up with inflammation in his throwing elbow. Team doctors examined Galarraga's right elbow Friday to make sure he had nothing more than inflammation. Assuming he doesn't, he'll remain in Detroit for the time being to receive treatment and work out, even though the Tigers optioned him to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Robertson isn't heading back to Toledo anytime soon, not with Major League rosters expanding on Monday. Whether he sticks in the rotation is another question.

"It's time to take a look at him," manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday. "We need a pitcher, so let's take a look."

The way Robertson pitched in the last start of his Minor League rehab assignment on Tuesday, he looked too good not to get a shot. Thirty-eight of his first 41 pitches went for strikes as part of 6 2/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against a Triple-A Louisville lineup that has its share of decent hitters.

"The only reason I elected for the surgery was to get whatever was going on in there [the left elbow] out and seeing if that was affecting me," Robertson said. "And I do feel a difference. The biggest thing, I think, is that I don't have to worry about it. I don't think about what these four lumps are doing. Once you see what actually came out of the arm, it's just kind of amazing it was just kind of sitting in there and floating around and maybe constricting something. I don't know, but that's why we did it.

"All that combined has really helped me focus on pitching, throwing my pitches in the strike zone and letting them do what they're supposed to do. The movement on them has been good, the speed. My slider was really sharp my last time out, where it's really biting hard. Commanding those pitches, you give yourself a chance."

For Robertson, Saturday is a big chance.

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (1-0, 7.71 ERA)
The veteran left-hander made five rehab starts with the Mud Hens, going 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA, but it was his last two starts that gave organizational officials the belief he was ready. His fastball hit 91 mph both times, and his slider had enough bite to help rack up nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start Tuesday.

TB: LHP David Price (6-6, 4.93 ERA)
For the second straight start, Price battled a high pitch count but was effective. Despite picking up the loss against the Rangers on Sunday, the 23-year-old left-hander gave up just three runs in seven innings, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out four. Price's pitch count was at 94 after the fifth, but he was able to give his team two more innings and finished throwing 114 pitches -- 72 of which were strikes. The only two runs charged to him came on balls that barely sneaked through the infield -- one a two-run single on a slow roller down the first-base line, and the other a chopper that bounced awkwardly high at third base. Price, who has pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings in his career against the Tigers, is 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA at home compared with an 0-4 mark and 8.07 ERA on the road.

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Tidbits

... The first 7,500 kids through the gates Saturday afternoon will receive a Curtis Granderson replica glove.
... Brandon Inge's 718th career game at third base Friday night pushed him past Marv Owen for eighth on the club's all-time list at the hot corner.
... Double-A Erie outfielder Brennan Boesch was named to the Eastern League's end-of-season All-Star team, as voted on by league managers, coaches and media members.
... Inge's homer Friday was his 25th on the year, making him the third Tiger to 25 this year. Inge, Miguel Cabrera and Granderson become the first trio of 25-homer Tigers since Inge, Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames did it in 2006.
... The Tigers have hit a home run in eight consecutive games at Comerica Park.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 14-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Rays (TBD), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 9-7, 3.23 ERA) vs. Rays (James Shields, 8-10, 3.81 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 10-6, 2.96 ERA) vs. Indians (David Huff, 8-7, 6.57 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

RAYS

1. Jason Bartlett, SS
   
2. Carl Crawford, LF
   
3. Ben Zobrist, CF
   
4. Pat Burrell, DH
   
5. Carlos Pena, 1B
   
6. Evan Longoria, 3B
   
7. Gabe Kapler, RF
   
8. Dioner Navarro, C
   
9. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
   

P: David Price

TIGERS

1. :curtis: Curtis Granderson, CF
   
2. :placido: Placido Polanco, 2B
   
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
   
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
   
5. :thames: Marcus Thames, DH
   
6. Ryan Raburn, LF
   
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
   
8. Gerald Laird, C
   
9. Adam Everett, SS
   

P: :nate: Nate Robertson

UMPIRES
HP: CB Bucknor
1B: Mike Everitt
2B: Brian Gorman
3B: Gerry Davis

Not Robertson! :puke2:

Why not let Inge pitch? At least he hasn't proven he's terrible.

His fastball hit 90-91. Bondo threw that fast and got rocked when he was recalled...

Doesn't look good, but let's hope Nate can keep his stuff together and get a nice outing here!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Bartlett grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Nate Robertson.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Carl Crawford on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ben Zobrist grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after .5 inning

great start Nate! 11 pitch 1st inning, 9 for strikes!

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, first baseman Carlos Pena to pitcher David Price.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Gabe Kapler.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Pat Burrell reaches on fielding error by shortstop Adam Everett.

B:2 S:0 O:1 - Carlos Pena grounds into a force out,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Adam Everett. Pat Burrell
out at 2nd. Carlos Pena to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Evan Longoria singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Carlos Pena to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Gabe Kapler swinging. Evan Longoria steals (6) 2nd base.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Dioner Navarro lines out to shortstop Adam Everett.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Akinori Iwamura to first baseman Carlos Pena.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Akinori Iwamura singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Bartlett walks. Akinori Iwamura to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Carl Crawford grounds out, second
baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Akinori
Iwamura to 3rd. Jason Bartlett to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ben Zobrist grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Akinori Iwamura scores.
TB 1, DET 0



B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Pat Burrell swinging. Passed ball by catcher Gerald Laird. Jason Bartlett to 3rd. Pat Burrell to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Pena singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Jason Bartlett scores. Pat Burrell to 2nd.
TB 2, DET 0


B:2 S:2 O:3 - Evan Longoria grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Carlos
Pena out at 2nd.

TB 2, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carl Crawford.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Gerald Laird singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Evan Longoria. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Adam Everett out on a sacrifice bunt,
third baseman Evan Longoria to second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Brandon
Inge to 3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Gabe Kapler.

TB 2, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Gabe Kapler singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
With Dioner Navarro batting, Gabe Kapler steals (5) 2nd base.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Dioner Navarro grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Akinori Iwamura flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jason Bartlett called out on .

TB 2, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to pitcher David Price.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera lines out sharply to center fielder Ben Zobrist.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Marcus Thames pops out to shortstop Jason Bartlett.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Ben Zobrist.

TB 2, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Nate Robertson.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carl Crawford grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Ben Zobrist grounds out, pitcher Zach Miner to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Pat Burrell walks.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Pena grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

TB 2, DET 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Evan Longoria to first baseman Carlos Pena.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Jason Bartlett to first baseman Carlos Pena.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

TB 2, DET 0 after 5 innings