Like most of you, Tigers manager Jim Leyland will be watching closely to see what Jeremy Bonderman does when he makes his first start of the season -- his first since June 1, 2008 -- Monday in the second game of the day-night doubleheader against the White Sox.
        As strange as this may sound, there is no guarantee Bonderman will remain in the starting rotation if he doesn’t perform reasonably well Monday night.
        “He’s got to show us he can get big league hitters out,” Leyland admitted.
        “You want him to be back, but, obviously, we can’t have six starters. And the way (Justin) Verlander, (Edwin Jackson, and (Rick) Porcello have been pitching, you don’t want to mess that up.”
        Assuming Bonderman is able to reclaim his rightful place in the starting rotation, he will join Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello -- leaving Armando Galarraga and Dontrelle Willis to battle over the fifth spot.
        Galarraga will start the first half of Monday’s doubleheader and Willis, who was yanked in the third inning while working on a no-hitter last Thursday, having walked five and given up five runs, pitches again on Tuesday.
        Those three games, by Galarraga, Bonderman and Willis, will determine the make-up of the Tigers starting rotation, at least for the immediate future.