ST. LOUIS - Kyle Lohse thinks pitching on 12 days' rest should not be a problem.
Scheduled to start Game 4 of the NL Championship Series for St. Louis, the right-hander has not pitched since the opener of the division series in Philadelphia on Oct. 1. He couldn't hold an early 3-0 lead in that game, giving up six runs - five earned - in 5 1/3 innings of an 11-6 loss.
Lohse's turn didn't come up again in the NLDS, and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa opted to go with Jaime Garcia and Edwin Jackson in the first two games of the NLCS in Milwaukee and ace Chris Carpenter in Game 3.
Lohse has some experience with long layoffs this season - with mostly good results. He went July 8-19 without a start, returning with a 4-2 loss to the Mets in which he gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. He had an extended gap Aug. 4-12, then gave up one earned run in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 win over Colorado. He returned after eight days off on Sept. 6 to throw six shutout innings in a 4-2 win over the Brewers.
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"I've been able to deal with it pretty well," Lohse said.
Tigers all banged up
DETROIT - The Tigers are without injured outfielders Brennan Boesch and Magglio Ordoñez, and outfielder Delmon Young has been banged up as well during the ALCS.
Victor Martinez hurt his rib cage during a Game 3 swing, although he was able to stay in the game.
"Victor Martinez is one of the toughest guys I've ever been around," manager Jim Leyland said. "I take my hat off, and Delmon Young the same."
Leyland penciled both Martinez and Young into his starting lineup for Game 4 on Wednesday, and he was also impressed with Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, who fouled a pitch off his left knee Tuesday night but never had to leave the game.
Tigers catcher Alex Avila seems to be battered by a foul ball almost every game.
"Alex is banged up pretty good," Leyland said. "It's hard for the average person to understand what these guys are going through. His knee was swelling up pretty good not too long ago."
Leyland even sympathized a bit with the reporters in the room.
"You guys are probably banged up. You've been traveling all over the place," he said. "You're probably tired. I hope you're getting overtime. I'm serious."
Phils' Howard has surgery
PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Howard could miss the start of next season after the Phillies' slugger had surgery Wednesday to repair his torn Achilles tendon. He expects to miss five to six months.
Howard ruptured his left Achilles tendon while making the final out in Philadelphia's 1-0 loss to St. Louis in the deciding game of the NLDS on Friday night.
Howard will be immobilized for one to two weeks.
