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Rogers, Tigers look to right ship vs. Jays

Aug 13, 2008 - 10:09 AM Toronto (61-59) at Detroit (58-61) 7:05 p.m. EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers will look to halt their freefall when they hand the ball to veteran Kenny Rogers against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Favorites to win the AL Central, Detroit has lost 9-of-12 and is 2-3 midway through a 10-game homestand.

The Tigers find themselves 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox, while the Blue Jays still trail the AL wild card-leading Boston Red Sox after Boston's wild 19-17 win over the Texas Rangers.

Rogers (8-9, 4.92) has lost three consecutive starts, but will be in search of his second victory over the Blue Jays. The lefthander allowed four runs, three hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-4 win on April 18.

The Blue Jays send rookie David Purcey (1-3, 7.40) to the mound. The former first-round draft pick makes his sixth career start and will attempt to improve on his performances away from home.

The lefthander made two spot starts in April and May before being recalled on July 26. In two road starts in his short career, the 26-year-old has allowed 13 runs in eight innings, along with home runs and six walks in the two outings.

In his last start against the Cleveland Indians, Purcey pitched six innings, striking out eight, equaling his total from his two previous starts.