D-Train inconsistent in loss to Sarasota

These are the division-leading Rays the Tigers will face this weekend. They've surprised baseball in much the same way Detroit did two years ago. And if the Tigers are going to pull off a surprising late-season run, holding their own in Florida this weekend would be a good start.

Justin Verlander's tough luck in his star-crossed history at Progressive Field ended up with his usual fate here. Grady Sizemore's three-run homer broke the Indians out of Thursday afternoon's pitching duel, sending the Tigers to a series split with a 9-4 loss.

Though Tigers team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said he had "some discussions" with other clubs Thursday, none resulted in a deal ahead of the 4 p.m. ET nonwaiver trade deadline.

Detroit reliever Todd Jones was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday as the Tigers eagerly waited for Kyle Farnsworth to join them. Jones, who recently lost his closer's job, has inflammation in his right shoulder. He has been bothered by pain for six weeks but refused to blame it on his recent struggles.

Grady Sizemore doesn't mind filling in as Cleveland's designated hitter every now and then. He just can't figure out what to do when he's not at the plate. "I do more running in the clubhouse than I do on the field," he said. Sizemore got to trot around the bases after hitting a three-run homer off Justin Verlander and drove in four runs, helping Fausto Carmona win for the first time since May 12 as...

The Tigers placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list Thursday while they await test results to determine the extent of his right shoulder injury.

When Brian Cashman arrived at Yankee Stadium Wednesday in a not-so-good mood over the way the last-place...

Ivan Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger. The New York Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push for the playoffs. The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday for hard-throwing reliever Kyle...

Maybe, just maybe, this is the day for a Justin Verlander gem at Progressive Field. If he thinks too much about that, it could very well be another long day. But then, considering how late the Tigers and Indians played Wednesday night, it'll be a long day regardless.