Logic dictated that it would probably be Robbie Ray headed down to Toledo when the Tigers activated Anibal Sanchez from the 15-day disabled list to start Sunday night's game vs. the Boston Red Sox.

After all, they'd need to keep Ray stretched out to fill in as a spot starter for injuries, and in the event of doubleheaders.

Instead, though, the Tigers sent reliever Justin Miller to Triple-A Toledo, keeping Ray.

Why? Because they'll need Ray to start in Rick Porcello's spot on Thursday. Porcello is experiencing soreness in his left side after Saturday night's start, much the same issue that cut short his previous start. Rather than start on turn Thursday, Porcello will be pushed back to Saturday, giving him an extra couple of days' rest.

Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters they were exercising "an overabundance of caution" to keep Porcello's issue from lingering.

Ausmus said after Ray's second of two big-league starts, on Mother's Day, that the best thing for his development would be for him to be starting. He'll get another start as a fill-in, then ostensibly head back down to stay stretched out.

The Tigers (3-0) host Tampa Bay (3-0) having won seven of their last eight games against the Rays. Rick Porcello makes his season debut on the mound, facing much-hyped Tampa rookie Matt Moore.

Here's the lineup the Tigers are trotting out against the left-handed Moore:

Austin Jackson, CF (.571, 2-2B, 1-3B, 5R)
Brennan Boesch, RF (.133, 1 RBI, 2K)
Miguel Cabrera, 3B (.455, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
Prince Fielder, 1B (.417, 2 HR, 3 RBI)
Delmon Young, LF (.231, 2R, 1 RBI)
Ryan Raburn, DH (.167, 2R, 4K)
Jhonny Peralta, SS (.417, 2-2B, 3 RBI)
Gerald Laird, C (first game action)
Danny Worth, 2B (1.000, 1R)

*NOTE: Ramon Santiago was a late scratch with the virus that's been going around the Tigers clubhouse. He was originally scheduled to start at 2B.

TAMPA LINEUP:
Desmond Jennings, CF
Carlos Pena, 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
Matt Joyce, LF
Ben Zobrist, RF
Jeff Keppinger, DH
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Jose Molina, C
Reid Brignac, SS

With rain disrupting Tigers ace Justin Verlander's Game 1 start on Saturday — just like it had in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against New York — there was some discussion after the game about whether the rotation would be altered to bring him back before his next scheduled start.

Manager Jim Leyland confirmed Sunday afternoon that he'd had decided to keep his rotation the same. Max Scherzer is scheduled to start Sunday's Game 2, followed by Doug Fister in Game 3 at Detroit on Tuesday.

"My rotation will stay exactly the same. Verlander, I know that will be a big question, so I'll take that off your mind, as well. He'll pitch Game 5 under any circumstances," Leyland said.

Projected Game 4 starter Rick Porcello came into Game 1 after two rain delays — totaling 110 minutes — ended Verlander's night at five innings pitched, and 82 pitches. Porcello got through two innings of relief with just 22 pitches. The thought was it might have been few enough for Verlander to take Porcello's spot in the rotation on Wednesday.

"When we get done (here), we're going to go down and look at it. We started to map out a couple of things during the one rain delay," Jim Leyland said at the postgame press conference. "But we don't have anything for you at this time. Certainly there's no tricks. We're not trying to hide anything. We just haven't figured it all out. As soon as we do, we'll ... get it out on the wire."

After lobbying to come in after both rain delays, Verlander admitted after the game that he figured he could go again in Game 4, if needed.

"I'm sure I could," he said.

Asked if he'd put that into the discussion with Leyland, he said, "I'm sure I will."

And apparently, that discussion fell on deaf ears, just like the earlier entreaties.

NEW YORK YANKEES at DETROIT TIGERS
When: Tuesday, 8:37 p.m.
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
Series: Tigers lead, 2-1
TV: TBS
(Brian Anderson, play-by-play; John Smoltz and Ron Darling, color)
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) and AM (1270)
(Dan Dickerson, play-by-play; Jim Price, color commentary)

DETROIT TIGERS
(career vs. Burnett in parentheses)
Austin Jackson, CF (.500, 1-for-2, HR)
Ramon Santiago, 2B (.250, 1-for-4)
Delmon Young, LF (.200, 3-for-15)
Miguel Cabrera, 1B (.214, 3-for-14)
Victor Martinez, DH (.259, 7-for-27, HR)
Don Kelly, RF (.000, 0-for-2)
Jhonny Peralta, SS (.231, 3-for-13)
Alex Avila, C (.500, 1-for-2)
Wilson Betemit, 3B (.261, 6-for-23)

STARTING PITCHER
Rick Porcello, RHP
2011 regular season: 14-9, 31 GS, 182.0 IP, 4.75 ERA, 1.407 WHIP
2011 home splits: 5-5, 14 GS, 83.0 IP, 5.64 ERA, .350 BA, 1.482 WHIP
Career vs. Yankees: 2-2, 4 GS, 5.56 ERA, 22.2 IP, 1.544 WHIP

NEW YORK YANKEES
(career vs. Porcello in parentheses)
Derek Jeter, SS (.000, 0-for-9)
Curtis Granderson, CF (.400, 2-for-5)
Robinson Cano, 2B (.455, 5-for-11)
Alex Rodriguez, 3B (.250, 1-for-4)
Mark Teixeira, 1B (.100, 1-for-10)
Nick Swisher, RF (.300, 3-for-10, HR)
Jorge Posada, DH (.333, 3-for-9)
Russell Martin, C (.250, 1-for-4)
Brett Gardner, LF (.111, 1-for-9)

STARTING PITCHER
A.J. Burnett, RHP
2011 regular season: 11-11, 32 GS, 5.15 ERA, 190.1 IP, 1.434 WHIP, 31 HR, AL-worst 25 wild pitches
2011 road splits: 4-5, 14 GS, 76.0 IP, 6.28 ERA, 12 HR, 1.632 WHIP
Career vs. Tigers: 4-2, 6.33 ERA, 42.2 IP, 1.500 WHIP
Career at Comerica: 2-2, 7.17 ERA, 21.1 IP, 21 H, 17 ER, 3 HR, 1.359 WHIP
Career postseason: 1-2, 6 GS, 5.67 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.410 WHIP
Last seven starts: 2-2, 35.2 IP, 44 H, 30 ER, 16 BB, 9 HR, .301 BA, 7.57 ERA