(Best E Casino) - If they weren't before, then by now every player in the Detroit Tigers clubhouse should be huge Red Wings and Pistons fans.

Thanks to those two franchises climbing deeper and deeper in the playoffs, the attention in Detroit has shifted from the debacle that is the Tigers. For now.

No matter what manager Jim Leyland tries, he just can't seem to get his team going. At the very least, he gets an 'A' for creativity. Lineup changes, position switches, you name it, Leyland's tried it.

But no matter how he tries to flip the script, the story remains the same. Either the starters are getting shelled, the offense goes into a slumber, a key player goes down, or someone commits a costly error at the wrong time. They can't hit righties, can't hit lefties, struggle on natural grass.

Maybe it's time the Tigers tried group meditation. In any case, they just can't seem to find that winning combination that's produced a combined 183 wins over the last two seasons.

Entering tonight's series-opener in Seattle, Detroit stands at 22-31, just 1 1/2 games ahead of the last-place Kansas City Royals, who lost for the 11th straight time Thursday night.

As the losses mount for Detroit, Leyland continues to tinker. Dontrelle Willis, upon his return from the disabled list last week, entered the game as a reliever for the first time since the 2003 World Series. That'd be quite a role for a guy who was signed to a three-year, $29 million deal in the offseason, then again Willis hasn't fared all that well as a starter in Detroit.

Leyland also sent left fielder Matt Joyce down to the minors and inserted Marcus Thames into his spot. That move paid immediate dividends, as Thames propelled the Tigers to a 6-2 win over the Angels Wednesday night with a pair of two-run homers. He just missed hitting a third. Outfielder Clete Thomas, who filled in while Curtis Granderson was injured at the beginning of the season, was also recalled for his energy.

Brandon Inge was given the start at third Wednesday night, a position that Leyland earlier in the season made headlines for switching former third baseman Miguel Cabrera with first baseman Carlos Guillen.

"I've got a lot of work to do on the plane (to Seattle) to get the flow of our team going a little bit," Leyland said in the Detroit Free Press. "We've had to move guys around. It's not ideal when you have to play Inge in center, then at third, then you catch him.

"We just haven't been in sync, and that's partly the reason we haven't been as successful. I think it works on people's minds. Don't ask me what I'm going to do or how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to try to figure it all out."

Leyland has also said that struggling leadoff man Curtis Granderson will stay in the lineup versus lefties.

SLUGGING PROSPECT CALLED UP TO FILL IN FOR SHEFFIELD

Gary Sheffield's shoulder problems, which have persisted all season long, just won't seem to go away. And now with an oblique strain to boot, the team's designated hitter finds himself on the DL, finally.

The injury occurred while Sheffield was trying to beat out a ground ball Monday night. He pulled up lame halfway down the first-base line, went to the dugout and did not return.

Hot-hitting prospect Jeff Larish, a left-handed hitter, was called up to start at DH tonight. He hit a league-high 28 home runs last year at Double-A Erie, and had already blasted 16 this season in Toledo, which currently ranks third in the International League. His 43 RBI ranks second.

"If he can hit, it helps a lot," Leyland said. "If he can't, it doesn't mean much. He's getting an opportunity."

ROTATION SHOWING SIGNS OF COMING AROUND

Twelve quality starts in the last 17 games, including five in a row. Could it be, that finally the starters are ready to take charge?

Lately, they have been challenging the strike zone and not getting punished for it. Justin Verlander, who seems to have come on lately, said he continues to work on his mechanics. He could also use a little offensive help.

Few pitchers in the AL have gotten as little run support; five times this year Verlander has lasted at least six innings and seen his offense put up one run or less.

Nate Robertson, who will take the hill tonight, says he can see the turnaround in the rotation.

"Four of our five starters set a tone for a team that went to the World Series two years ago," he told the Detroit Free Press. "So you had to think that things would eventually work themselves out this season. In the big situations in games, guys are starting to make the pitches."

WHO'S HOT

For once, we can give this distinction to the starting rotation for their recent efforts.

WHO'S NOT

Cabrera continues to struggle, and is hitting just .182 over a six-game span.

A LOOK AHEAD

Robertson (2-5, 5.88) looks to stay sharp in Seattle tonight, as he will oppose Carlos Silva (3-4, 5.14). On Saturday it will be Verlander (2-7, 5.16) against Felix Hernandez (2-5, 3.60). Kenny Rogers (4-4, 5.88) will close out the series Sunday opposite Miguel Batista (3-6, 5.98).

The Tigers then head to Oakland to kick off a set with the A's on Monday. Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.34) will square off with Rich Harden (3-0, 2.60) in the opener.