Tigers Will Wait To Decide Makeup Of Playoff Roster

Jim Leyland is getting his postseason wheels in gear.

Various issues such as player health and uncertainty over the identity of the opponent will prevent the Tigers from setting their playoff roster until the season's final series against Cleveland.

"There's no sense trying to figure out the postseason roster," Leyland said, "because we don't know. I do not know one iota of what my postseason roster is going to look like."

Well, OK, we know Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Victor Martinez are going to be on it. But the bubble list includes role players and relievers.

Leyland revealed his first move with the announcement that Max Scherzer would start Wednesday at Kansas City but that Doug Fister would relieve him after five innings. That will allow Leyland to postpone his decision as to which of the two will work Game 2 of the playoffs until Monday, when he must chose one of the two to start against Cleveland. The duo would then line up that way in the playoffs.

"Obviously we're setting up our rotation for the playoffs, however we decide to go," Leyland said Tuesday before the Tigers' 10-2 loss to the Royals at Kansas City. "We have to have guys falling on the right days. That's why we are doing it."

Verlander, of course, will pitch the first and possible fifth game, but Leyland ruled out bringing him back on short rest for Game 4. Verlander's last regular-season start is scheduled for Saturday at home against Baltimore.

Using Scherzer and Fister in the same game opened up Thursday for rookie Jacob Turner to start at Comerica Park against Baltimore. That will finish the rookie's season.

Leyland also confirmed he'd cut his pitching staff by one, to 11, and carry 14 position players. And Martinez probably won't catch again through the end of the regular season.

Players nursing injuries are Wilson Betemit, Carlos Guillen and Al Alburquerque.

Betemit has a sore left knee he suffered Friday, but he should play again in a day or two.

Guillen has a sore right calf that makes him doubtful for the divisional round; Leyland said he must play again to be considered.

Alburquerque has been slowed recently by a sore right hip.

Leyland wants to get home-field advantage for as much of the playoffs as he can, but he's putting the premium on getting his roster in shape for the postseason.

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