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Today-Sunday

What's new: The Tigers are a mess, having lost 12 of 13 and fallen into last place in a season in which they were picked by many to reach the World Series. … Their bullpen has been bad and their rotation worse. … Tampa-born slugger Gary Sheffield will miss today's game as he finishes serving a suspension.

Key stat: OF Magglio Ordonez is hitting .353 (91-for-258) with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 68 games at Comerica Park.

Connections: Tigers relievers Casey Fossum, Gary Glover and Bobby Seay are ex-Rays; LHP Kenny Rogers, OFs Matt Joyce and Ryan Raburn are Tampa Bay-area products; pitching coach Chuck Hernandez is both. Rays Trever Miller, Carlos Pena and Troy Percival are former Tigers.

Series history: Rays lead 3-0 this season, 41-37 all time, 19-18 in Detroit.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer