Tigers place Sheffield on DL

DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a sore shoulder that caused him to slump during the second half.

While Sheffield is hitting .279 with 24 homers and 71 RBI in his first season with Detroit, he is batting just .220 (27-for-123) with three homers and 13 RBI since the all-star break.

"No. 1, we've got to get the shoulder right," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said before the series finale against the New York Yankees. "No. 2, we can't go on this way with three extra players, with one being a catcher."

It was another blow for a banged-up team trying to chase division and wild-card leaders. The move was retroactive to Aug. 22, and the roster spot was filled by outfielder Timo Perez, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

Perez played in three games for the Tigers last month, and had one hit in seven at-bats. He had a .309 batting average with 13 homers and 69 RBIs for the Mud Hens this season.

Detroit also put right-hander Jair Jurrjens on the DL with right shoulder inflammation. They replaced him with right-hander Zach Miner from Triple A.

The Tigers have not played one game this season with the pitching staff and position players they hoped to have when spring training for the defending AL champions began in mid-February.

Left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers began the season on the DL, and is out again. He threw a bullpen session Sunday, but his injured left elbow is still holding him back.

"I was hoping it would be good enough that they would give me a date to pitch," Rogers said. "But they didn't think my bullpen was good enough. I'm going to keep trying until they're comfortable with how I'm throwing."

Detroit went into Monday night's game trailing Cleveland by 2½ games in the AL Central and in the wild-card race, it was four games behind Seattle and trailed the Yankees by two games.

"The Sheffield thing is a big blow to us, and Jurrjens," Leyland said. "But I don't let that stuff get to me because that's the nature of this business. If you start spring training and think you're going into the middle of October without injuries, you're crazy. "I move on. I'm worried about managing this game tonight, and trying to win this game."