Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will pitch Game 1 and Game 5 of the first round of the American League playoffs.

Associated Press

Home-field advantage or not, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander won't work on three days rest in the playoffs.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland made that clear Thursday.

"Verlander will pitch Game 1 and Game 5," Leyland said. "All the second-guessers can come out and say I should pitch him in the fourth game if we're behind, but that's not going to happen."

The Tigers lost, 6-5, Thursday at home against Baltimore. At 90-66, they have the same record as the Texas Rangers in the race for home-field advantage in the first round of the American League playoffs. The Tigers own the tie-breaker if the teams finish the season tied because they won the season series with the Rangers.

TIGERS

• Detroit Free Press: Leyland doing the right thing as Tigers prepare for playoffs, columnist Michael Rosenberg says
• FoxSports.com: Ken Rosenthal says Yankees would rather face Rangers than Tigers
• MLB.com: Video of Delmon Young's three-run homer against the Orioles

LIONS

• Minneapolis Star Tribune: The Lions haven't won at the Metrodome since 1997. If they win Sunday, it's likely because of their defensive front line
• ESPN.com: Vikings QB Donovan McNabb is dangerous outside of the pocket
• ESPN.com: Matthew Stafford was on the radio with Mike and Mike on Thursday