The Tigers could be a 1,000-pound weight (the lineup) hanging by a single strand of sewing thread (the bullpen). Injuries to RHP Joel Zumaya and RHP Fernando Rodney have left Detroit's relief staff short of back-end strength. There are only hopes and prayers if something dire should happen to one of the starters, too. The loaded lineup figures to hit enough to keep the Tigers in playoff contention, but the real race will be to get the bullpen stabilized for the end of the season.

ROTATION:

1. RHP Justin Verlander

2. LHP Kenny Rogers

3. RHP Jeremy Bonderman

4. LHP Nate Robertson

5. LHP Dontrelle Willis

Verlander has looked 20-game-winner sharp this spring, but Willis has shown signs that his two-year-slide is a trend, not an aberration. Rogers has looked good but is 43, while Robertson has looked a lot like the pitcher who keyed Detroit's 2006 run to the World Series. Bonderman has had no elbow problems and looks as if he's serious about using his changeup now, which could be the key to a dominating season for him. The Tigers need them all to stay relatively healthy, though, because there is no ready replacement available.

BULLPEN:

RHP Todd Jones (closer)

RHP Denny Bautista

LHP Bobby Seay

RHP Jason Grilli

RHP Zach Miner

LHP Tim Byrdak

RHP Yorman Bazardo

RHP Fernando Rodney opens the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, leaving the Tigers with no proven setup man. Jones has been erratic in the spring; is that a tipoff that his career is coming to an end at age 40? Byrdak has pitched poorly this spring, but he was also weak a year ago before a good month in the minors brought him to Detroit. Manager Jim Leyland will use his pitchers in the late innings according to matchups and hope one of them steps up as a reliable setup man. RHP Joel Zumaya won't be available until midseason at the earliest. RHP Aquilino Lopez will be just a phone call away if help is needed; he was good in spots last year. A spring trade is a good possibility.

LINEUP:

1. SS Edgar Renteria

2. 2B Placido Polanco

3. DH Gary Sheffield

4. RF Magglio Ordonez

5. 3B Miguel Cabrera

6. 1B Carlos Guillen

7. C Ivan Rodriguez

8. LF Jacque Jones

9. CF Brandon Inge

With CF Curtis Granderson opening the season on the disabled list, Renteria probably will bat first against right-handers, Leyland said. Rodriguez likely will get the call against lefties. Polanco will hit second no matter what. Inge is the most likely candidate to replace Granderson, who is expected to be out until mid-April.

There is speculation Detroit could score 1,000 runs this year, but Leyland would settle for 900 and no long-term injuries. Most of the regulars have some age on them, but there is enough help on the bench to ensure they all get enough rest.

RESERVES:

OF/1B Marcus Thames

SS Ramon Santiago

UT/C Ryan Raburn

OF Freddy Guzman, OF Clete Thomas or C Dane Sardinha

C Vance Wilson, still recovering from Tommy John surgery last June, has been placed on the disabled list and won't be back until May at the earliest. Raburn is strictly an emergency catcher with Inge the primary (if unwilling) backup to C Ivan Rodriguez. Thames figures to spell the corner outfielders and 1B Carlos Guillen.

ROOKIE WATCH: The Tigers stripped their system of ready top prospects to beef up their lineup. They see RHP Virgil Vasquez as most advanced if they need rotation help, and INFs Michael Hollimon and Scott Sizemore are possibilities for utility duty by the end of the season. OF Brent Clevlen is ready defensively but needs to show he can make consistent contact enough to be of help offensively. The top pitching prospect, RHP Rick Porcello, won't be ready until at least 2009.

MEDICAL WATCH:

CF Curtis Granderson (non-displaced fracture of right middle finger) was placed on the disabled list March 23 and expected to be out until mid-April.

RHP Joel Zumaya (right shoulder AC joint surgery) is throwing lightly on a regular basis but won't be pitching for another couple of months and will be out until at least midseason. No one knows how effective he will be when he returns, either.

C Vance Wilson (Tommy John surgery) has been placed on the disabled list as he continues to progress slowly from June 13 Tommy John surgery. He hopes to return by the end of April, but even that is uncertain.

RHP Fernando Rodney (right shoulder tendinitis) has been placed on the disabled list, in part so the club won't be tempted to rush the setup man back too early. He will rehabilitate in the warm weather.

SS Edgar Renteria (back strain) missed three games as a precaution but reportedly would have played had this been the regular season.

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