The Tigers were handcuffed last night by St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook who went the distance with a 5-hitter to lead the Cardinals to a 3-1 win in Detroit.  Austin Jackson had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.

Rick Porcello lasted seven innings for Detroit, allowing two runs on 10 hits, including 9 singles, and his record falls to 4-and-5. The loss dropped the Tigers to three games behind the Central Division leading Indians, who last night finished off a 3-game sweep of the Reds in Cleveland.

The second place White Sox stay a half game off the pace following their 8-to-0 win over the Cubs. Detroit and St. Louisplay the rubber game of their 3-game set this afternoon with the Tigers looking for their fourth straight series win. Twenty-one-year old right-hander Jacob Turner will make his season debut for Detroit after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo to sub for the injured Drew Smyly. Turner will be working with catcher Alex Avila, who returns after two weeks on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain.

It was perfect timing for Avila’s return since fellow catcher Gerald Laird had to leave last night’s game with left hamstring cramping and is listed as day-to-day.  

And the Tigers announced that closer Jose Valverde has a sprained right wrist, but nothing worse, after an MRI and a hand exam. He’s expected to miss the next 3 or 4 days. Valverde’s problem surfaced while he was warming up to enter Monday night’s game against the Cardinals.