MATTHEW B. MOWERY: Porcello could be the odd arm out for the Tigers

Manager Jim Leyland confirmed to reporters Tuesday that the Tigers would carry 14 hitters and 11 pitchers on the playoff roster, as they had last year.

Here's an early stab at who those might be:

HITTERS: Miguel Cabrera, 3B; Prince Fielder, 1B; Jhonny Peralta, SS; Omar Infante, 2B; Austin Jackson, CF; Andy Dirks, OF; Delmon Young, DH; Alex Avila, C; Gerald Laird, C; Quintin Berry, OF/PR; Avisail Garcia, OF/PR; Don Kelly, utility; Ramon Santiago, utility; Brennan Boesch, OF.

PITCHERS: Justin Verlander, SP; Max Scherzer, SP; Anibal Sanchez, SP; Doug Fister, SP; Jose Valverde, closer; Joaquin Benoit, set-up; Octavio Dotel, short relief; Phil Coke, lefty specialist; Al Alburquerque, middle relief; Brayan Villarreal, middle relief; Drew Smyly, long relief/extra starter.

Leyland said that Garcia would for sure be on the playoff roster, and might even start the first game, should the Tigers face a lefty starter.

The only question marks, in my mind, were how many hitters were they going to carry.

If it was 13, it would have come down to a three-way decision between Kelly, Santiago and Boesch. Considering how lightly used Boesch has been in September (and how much he's struggled in those chances, anyway), it would have been hard to see him make it in that scenario.

With a 14/11 split, though, it may be hard to see Rick Porcello make the squad. It'll probably come down to either he or Smyly for that long relief option. Yes, Porcello did that to an extent in last year's playoffs, helping out when rain dictated the necessity, but he's not pitched well down the stretch, going winless in eight straight starts until the clincher Monday.

Unless he gets a "Brad Penny memorial managerial loyalty exemption," it's hard to see Porcello make it over Smyly, who's got the added bonus of being a versatile lefty. Another decision might possibly be to carry an extra lefty, Darin Downs, over a right-hander like Brayan Villarreal, who's struggled of late, posting a 4.08 ERA since mid-August. Downs is holding left-handed hitters to a .171 average and no extra-base hits.

Unlike previous years, when the roster was due 24 hours before the first playoff game, this year Leyland does not have to turn in his roster until game time for Game 1 on Saturday.
