Detroit Vs. Tampa Bay 6-13-11
The Detroit Tigers couldn't muster enough offense during their last game to move into sole possession of first place in the AL Central for the first time in more than 11 months.
The Tigers, however, are hoping to get a boost from six-time All-Star Magglio Ordonez.
After missing more than a month with soreness in his surgically repaired right ankle, Ordonez is expected to be available as the Tigers and visiting Tampa Bay Rays play a makeup game Monday night.
Detroit (35-30), which took two of the first three from Seattle prior to falling 7-3 in Sunday's series finale, hasn't sat alone atop its division since July 10 of last season. The Tigers are in a virtual tie with Cleveland, which has lost nine of 10 and closes a four-game set at Yankee Stadium on Monday.
Detroit is likely to have Ordonez back in the lineup as it tries again to pass the Indians. Ordonez, who hasn't played since May 10, will be recalled from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo prior to Monday's game.
Ordonez went 3 for 5 with a home run in his last contest with the Mud Hens on Saturday and finished his rehab stint 11 for 37 (.297) with two homers. He was just 17 for 99 (.172) over 26 games prior to getting hurt.
"Magglio's got to hit. That's just the way it is," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official website Friday.
"That's what his forte is. That's what we need him to do. He's not going to steal bases. He's not going to play defense as well as (outfielder Casper Wells). So we need his bat, and that professional bat, I think, when it's all said and done, will be very important for us."
The Tigers, who recorded back-to-back wins over Tampa Bay (35-30) on May 23-24 before the series finale was postponed due to rain, will send Phil Coke (1-6, 4.11 ERA) to the mound as he looks to regroup from a rocky outing.
Coke, who was placed on the disabled list after bruising a bone in his right foot in the fourth inning of a 6-3 win over the Rays on May 23, was activated to start Wednesday at Texas. He allowed six runs - four earned - and 10 hits in five innings of a 7-3 defeat.
"I wasn't working at the speed I would normally," said Coke, who is 0-4 in his last eight starts. "I was trying to find that groove, and I didn't exactly find it throughout the game. It was not exactly as easy I was hoping it was going to be as far as putting the ball where it was asked for."
The Rays, whose 9-6 win Sunday at Baltimore was their fifth victory in six games, counter with Alex Cobb (1-0, 4.24) in the finale of their 11-game trip.
After allowing eight walks and seven runs in his first two major league starts, Cobb got his first victory Tuesday, giving up one run and seven hits with no walks in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-1 road win over the Los Angeles Angels.
"You get more comfortable," Cobb said. "The first outing, I was just happy to be there. Now I want to compete and win."
Rays outfielder Matt Joyce, whose average has dropped 47 points to .330 over his last 13 games, was held out Friday and Sunday with a sore left shoulder. His status for Monday's game is unclear.
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