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Cardinals visit rolling Tigers for three-game set

Jun 24, 2008 - 12:14 PM St. Louis (44-33) at Detroit (36-39), 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- With Jeremy Bonderman's jersey hanging in the dugout for inspiration, the Detroit Tigers aim for their 13th win in 16 games Tuesday when they open a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bonderman, who will miss the remainder of the year with a blood clot in his right arm, and Dontrelle Willis, who is in Class A Lakeland to deal with mechanical issues, were supposed to be cornerstones of one of the most imposing pitching staffs in the major leagues.

Instead, the Tigers have had to find other ways to stay in contention. Thanks to a balanced offense, Detroit has won 12 of its last 15 games and trails the first-place Chicago White Sox by just five games in the American League Central Division.

Despite falling as much as 12 games under .500 mark this season, the Tigers have clawed their way toward the top of the division thanks to heavy hitting by Placido Polanco, who was 8-for-20 during a six-game road trip against the San Francisico Giants and San Diego Padres.

Detroit will send Kenny Rogers (5-4, 4.36 ERA) to the mound against the Cardinals. In his past five starts, Rogers has allowed just four runs and 25 hits in 36 innings.

The Cardinals, coming off a 13-inning marathon on Sunday and a two-win weekend against the Boston Red Sox, will count on Braden Looper (8-5, 4.10) to build on the positive three-game set.

Aaron Miles and Troy Glaus led the St. Louis offense, which put up eight runs in the first two innings against Daisuke Matsuzaka on Saturday.

After scoring just four runs while getting swept against the Kansas City Royals, the Cardinals tagged the Red Sox for 17 runs - and more help might be on the way.

Albert Pujols, who has been sidelined since June 11, could be activated from the 15-day disabled list at some point in the series.