When I heard that Ramon Santiago hit his first home run since 2003 last night, I was hoping I could make a joke about the Detroit Tigers being undefeated when he takes a pitcher deep into the seats.  MLB.com's Jason Beck did the legwork by posting a link to the boxscore from August 1, 2003, and I trashed my joke because the Tigers lost to the Twins that day, 10-4.

But I was still horrified, nonetheless, to see the lineup Detroit sports fans were subjected to on that particular night (though it was the fans in Minneapolis who had to view the grisly truth with their own eyes).  Check this big boi murderer's row out:

1.  Alex Sanchez, CF
2.  Warren Morris, 2B
3.  Bobby Higginson, RF
4.  Kevin Witt, DH
5.  Carlos Pena, 1B
6,  Eric Munson, 3B
7.  Ben Petrick, LF
8.  Matt Walbeck, C
9.  Ramon Santiago, SS

Take all the time you need to recover.  I know.  I know.  Take a deep breath and sip on a Vernor's.  I cried into my pillow while hugging it tightly as I tried to find the solace that only sleep could bring as I remembered the baseball that we once had to watch.

Did the Tigers actually charge full major league ticket prices to see this?  Did we really pay to watch it?  I know it was all part of Dave Dombrowski's plan, to tear it down so it could be rebuilt and brought back stronger.  And lineups with Kevin Witt hitting clean-up were part of the penance that had to be paid for the prosperity we're currently enjoying in Detroit.  But Sweet Milk of Magnesia, that's still ugly to look at.

Vicente Padilla (2-1, 3.12) vs. Justin Verlander (0-3, 7.03)

What we have here tonight is a battle to create some separation.  Both the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers find themselves with identical won-loss records, at the bottom of their respective divisions, and five games out of the AL Wild Card spot.  So who's going to shake loose and who might sink just a bit more? 

Vicente Padilla is coming off an excellent performance against Toronto, in which he gave up only one run in seven innings.  He also has never lost in each of the four times he's faced the Tigers.  Padilla has a 3-0 record and 2.08 ERA, with 15 strikeouts in 26 innings.  20 of those innings have been thrown at Comerica Park, during which he's given up only three runs.

Justin Verlander has lost his last three games, and spent his time between starts working on his arm angle, thinking that dropping it too low has flattened out some of his pitches.  (The Detroit Tigers Weblog tried to take a closer look at that through pitch f/x.)  We'll see if that makes any difference in his breaking pitches tonight.  Verlander has also been very successful in this match-up, winning three of his four starts against the Rangers and giving up just seven runs in 25 1/3 innings. 

Both Placido Polanco and Gary Sheffield are sitting out again, though both hitters could return to the lineup soon.  No structural damage was found in an exam of Sheffield's shoulder, and he received a cortisone shot (in both shoulders, actually) to alleviate some of the discomfort he's been feeling.  Curtis Granderson is also expected to rejoin the Tigers tomorrow after one more rehab start with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Lone Star Ball has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.