Rookie Rick Porcello, whose chances of beginning the season in the Tigers’ starting rotation may hinge on how quickly Nate Robertson recovers from Wednesday’s sprained thumb, struggled against the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays Thursday night.
        Porcello started and pitched the first 2 1/3 innings innings. Although he loaded the bases before he could get anyone out in the first inning, he escaped with only one run scored against.
        Except for shortstop Adam Everett, who is sidelined for a few days with a sprained ankle, and  Porcello, the Tigers’ starting lineup for Thursday night’s exhibition was identical to the one we expect to see on April 6, Opening Day, in Toronto.
        Miguel Cabrera was at first base, Curtis Granderson was in center field, Magglio Ordonez was in right and Carlos Guillen was in left.
        For Jim Leyland, it was a welcome sight.
        The Tiger players, who have been gone all month for the World Baseball Classic, were glad to be back, too.
        “When I got to the ballpark yesterday they said, ‘We’re going  run the bases,’ ” Ordonez said.
        “I said, ‘Thank God.’ I only got on base twice the whole time I was with the WBC.”
        Baseball-wise, it was largely a wasted month -- although, in the best interest of baseball, Leyland is biting his tongue.
        However, Leyland didn’t hold back when asked his response to Internet critics who have claimed lately that Cabrera is overweight and out of shape.
        “Cabrera is fine, Cabrera is perfect,” the Tigers’ manager said. “And if he hits 37 home runs this year, he’ll be really perfect.”
        Robertson went to a nearby hospital for precautionary X-rays of his sprained left thumb Thursday afternoon. Robertson was struck on his pitching hand by a throw while covering first base on Wednesday.
        “No big red flags,” Robertson, who had emerged as the leading candidate in the race for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, insisted when he returned to the ballpark. “I’m a pretty tough guy.”
        Nevertheless, his thumb was red and noticeably swollen.
        “I’m not worried about this, I feel good about where I’m at,” he said.  “My recent outings have shown that the command and the action on my pitches is there.”
        Robertson said he may be able to make his next and probably final exhibition start on Tuesday. “It’s not out of the question, but it’s not a sure thing,” he admitted.
        Everett  sprained his left ankle sliding into second base on Wednesday.
        “I’ve heard ‘a few days,’ I think that’s realistic,” Everett said when asked how long he might be out of action.
        “I was starting to feel good, my body was starting to feel great, everything was starting to come around,” he continued. “Yeah, I’m a little frustrated.”      
        The Tigers cut four more players on Thursday, outfielders Wilkin Ramirez and  Alexis Gomez, infielder Don Kelly, and catcher Max St. Pierre across the road to minor league camp. Only Ramirez is on the major league roster. None had a legitimate chance to make the team