DETROIT — It says something when your manager seems like he doesn’t trust you in an elimination game — especially on a team that’s filled with defensive question marks.

Just last Sunday, Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had proclaimed Ezequiel Carrera the best of the remaining center fielders, the morning after Rajai Davis injured himself on the second-to-last game of the regular season.

One week later, Carrera’s not in the lineup when Davis can’t go for Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Instead, Don Kelly’s starting in center.

“Gut instinct, decided to go with Donnie. Defensively, they’re about the same,” Ausmus said before the win-or-go-home game. “Zeke probably runs a little bit better. Donnie, obviously, has a little more experience.”

Carrera does have far better speed. But other than the spectacular, highlight-reel catch in New York shortly after the trade deadline dealings brought him the big leagues, there have been more poor plays than good ones.

See: The single that got dumped in front of him in Game 2, chasing starter Justin Verlander from the game.

That’s one where you’d hope your center fielder gets a better jump, and makes a play.

Ausmus chose to play Carrera in the final game of the regular season, in part based on a ‘gut feeling’ that he’d been swinging the bat well. But, at the time, he still endorsed his defensive capabilities.

“In terms of from a defensive standpoint, it would probably be Carrera, Kelly first, but Tyler (Collins) could play center. Out of the three, Carrera’s probably the better center fielder out of all of them. Then Kelly, and Tyler,” Ausmus said. “All three of them are capable of playing it.”

Like Davis, Carrera’s fleetness of foot can be a bonus offensively — he finished with seven steals in the regular season, fifth-most on the team, despite playing just 45 games with the Tigers — but his defense has been spotty. Lots of bad jumps, poor routes.

Sitting him Sunday is merely an endorsement of that reality.

Rajai Davis was hopeful he'd play again in Game 3 of the Division Series, but with the cold weather, manager Brad Ausmus started Don Kelly in the key game instead.

Down 0-2, the Tigers turned to David Price on the mound, hoping he'd do the same thing he'd done in Game 162, helping seal a division title.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Baltimore leads, 2-0

G3: at Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 5, 3:45 p.m.

TV: TBS (Brian Anderson PBP, Dennis Eckersley/Joe Simpson color)

Radio: WXYT-AM (1270) and WWJ-AM (950), WMGC-FM (105.1 — ESPN feed)

DETROIT TIGERS

Ian Kinsler, 2B

Torii Hunter, RF

Miguel Cabrera, 1B

Victor Martinez, DH

J.D. Martinez, LF

Alex Avila, C

Nick Castellanos, 3B

Andrew Romine, SS

Don Kelly, CF

Pitcher: David Price, LHP (4-4, 3.59 ERA with Tigers)

[LINK: Manager Brad Ausmus on decision to start Kelly over Ezequiel Carrera]

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Nick Markakis, RF
Steven Pearce, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Hundley, C
Ryan Flaherty, 3B
Jonathan Schoop, 2B

Pitcher: Bud Norris, RHP (15-8, 3.65 ERA)

Other related links:
[ALDS schedule]
[Pressure's on Price again to produce with Tigers in an 0-2 hole]
[Verlander asks for #BlueOut at Comerica]
[Anibal Sanchez gives Tigers two good innings of relief, but no more]

The Tigers were already hoping to have a pumped up home crowd when they brought the series back to Detroit — now they're hoping to have a color-coordinated one, too.

In an attempt to get fans jacked up for Sunday's Game 3 of the American League Division Series, Detroit Tigers star Justin Verlander took to Twitter the night before, pushing for fans to pick one color to fill Comerica Park with.

Since orange is also the primary colors for the Orioles, fans settled on blue — as one fan put it, also representing the blue collars of Tigers fans.

The requests — seen below — used the hashtags #colorcomerica and #blueout.

Let's fill the stadium tomorrow with one color! What do u guys think?? Orange, blue or white? #colorcomerica so I can see responses.
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) October 5, 2014

@JustinVerlander blue! Orange looks like THEIR color! We need to represent the D & the hard working blue collars out there! #colorcomerica
— Jenni Womick (@TigerGirlJenni) October 5, 2014

The color is blue tomorrow! Hope we can spread the word soon enough. #colorcomerica
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) October 5, 2014

DETROIT — The Rajai Davis saga will extend into Sunday’s Game 3 of the American League Division Series, with the center fielder, whose speed has been greatly hampered by a week-old pelvic injury, believing he’ll play.

“I am going to play,” he said emphatically at Saturday’s workout at Comerica Park. “I hope.”

If there was a game on Saturday, he’s not so sure, though.

“I’m glad there’s not, so I don’t even have to make that decision,” he admitted.

The injury has clearly robbed Davis of his one defining tool, his speed. He wouldn’t hazard a guess at the percentage.

“Not sure right now. I just know it’s been getting better every day. At the beginning of the game I’ve noticed more than in the middle of the game. At the beginning of the game, every game, I’ve been faster,” he said. “It’s getting better, actually. Every day, it’s getting better.

“It’s just not what we’re used to seeing.”

He was hobbling so badly in Friday’s Game 2, that manager Brad Ausmus removed him from the game after his second at-bat.

“It’s not tough at all. It’s humbling. I’m like some of the other guys that walk around here — just not as fast,” said Davis, who cackled when a reporter responded with “Welcome to our world.”

Ian Kinsler drilled his second home run in as many days in the eighth inning of Monday’s game, putting some separation between his Detroit Tigers and the host Baltimore Orioles.

Two pitches later, Orioles starter Bud Norris drilled Torii Hunter in the ribs.

Exception was taken.

So was umbrage.

Benches cleared, as did the bullpens.

Even reading lips, it was clear that Hunter shouted “What the (bleep) you doin’, man?” at Norris, then after the pitcher was ejected, but hung around in the dugout, “I’ll whip your (bleep).”

Hunter had to be restrained by reliever Joba Chamberlain.

"I was actually thinking he was pitching really well, had control all night, and all of a sudden lost it?" Hunter said on the Fox Sports Detroit postgame show. "It's like a pickup basketball game. Two guys, you get a foul, you argue, that's sports. That's baseball. It's just adrenaline going, and once you calm yourself down, you think about the situation, it doesn't make sense. ...

"I got kids in college. I can't be doing that."

It’s much the same situation as last year on June 1, when the Orioles’ Jason Hammel plunked Matt Tuiasosopo high on the left shoulder, after back-to-back-to-back homers by Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila.

Norris has developed a trend of starting things recently, as well, jawing with the Pirates Neil Walker after a hit-by-pitch.

He wasn't happy about the ejection, though.

His reaction kind of stirred the umpire, too, stirred their bench up, too," Norris told reporters, including MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli. "It's kind of a weird time. Because he says something, I'm immediately tossed?"

The oddest part of the whole situation, though, might be third-base umpire Paul Nauert patting Hunter on the cheek, in what appeared to be an attempt to calm him down. Instead, it appeared to have the opposite effect. See the picture at right.

Hunter after the game told MLive's Chris Iott:
"That's my buddy. I've been knowing him too long. He was just trying to, 'Come on, T.'" 

Here's the video footage of Tigers rookie reliever Al Alburquerque getting hit in the head during batting practice before Friday's game.