The cold and flu season has caught up to the Detroit Tigers at the worst time possible.
All-stars Ivan Rodriguez and Placido Polanco and outfielder Craig Monroe are sick and were not in the lineup for Wednesday’s second AL Central showdown game with the Cleveland Indians.
Closer Todd Jones was not feeling well and neither was Justin Verlander, who is scheduled to start tonight in New York against the Yankees.
“They’re sick and there’s nothing you can do about that,” manager Jim Leyland said. “I can’t do anything about it except play some other guys and hope they give us a chance to win.”
Asked if there was any update on left-hander Kenny Rogers, sidelined since July 29 with swelling in his left elbow, Leyland said, “He won’t be doing any throwing today because he’s sick as a dog, too.”
Brewers: First baseman Prince Fielder is appealing the three-game suspension handed down by the commissioner’s office, allowing him to remain in the lineup until his appeal is heard.
Fielder was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount for “inappropriate and aggressive conduct” during a confrontation with plate umpire Wally Bell on Sunday, when the Brewers lost 6-4 at Houston.
“We’re both over 250 pounds, so if our stomachs touch, that’s going to happen,” Fielder said.
Diamondbacks: Arizona designated pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim for assignment a day after he retired only one batter in a 14-5 loss to the Florida Marlins.
The right-hander allowed four runs, three earned, to boost his ERA in two starts with the Diamondbacks to 23.63.
