Rogers set for follow-up

DETROIT -- Well, Mr. Rogers, what can you do for an encore?

Pitching as if it were the last game of his career, 41-year-old Kenny Rogers shut down the Yankees, 6-0, in Game 3 of the Division Series last Friday in what longtime observers called the best game of his career. And Rogers wouldn't argue.

His velocity pumped up to 93 miles per hour -- it's usually 87-89 -- and he had a curveball that brought the powerful Yankee lineup to its knees, allowing five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Can he repeat?

Rogers acknowledged he was able to show emotion based on the opponent. He played for the Yankees in 1996 and '97 and was considered a player who couldn't take the heat in New York. In two seasons, he was 18-15 during the regular season, but only lasted seven innings total in three postseason starts in 1996.

``I mean, knowing you're facing an opponent that is that potent in every aspect of the game, I knew that if I was lax in anything, effort, concentration, whatever it was, that I would pay for it dearly," said Rogers. ``So I was just making sure that whatever I did, I used every ounce of my being out there for that game because anything less would have been something that benefited them, and I did not want to give them an inch."

The encore is today against the Athletics in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park. After blanking the Yankees, Rogers said he needed a lot of ice to ease the pain in his left shoulder.

``Physically that was as demanding a game for me as there's going to be," Rogers said. ``I'm glad to get the extra day or so. But if they would have wanted me to pitch any day, I'll pitch whenever Skip [manager Jim Leyland] tells me to. It doesn't matter. I'm not going to approach Oakland the same way I approach New York, but I will do what I'm capable of doing in any given situation."

Rogers, who is 11-1 in 17 starts against the A's since 2002 and 11-4 with a 3.32 ERA at Comerica Park over his career, said he will turn on whatever energy he needs to combat the A's.

``My energy level is just going to be like what I feel is appropriate against their hitters," he said. ``I'm going to try and make the pitches that I think are appropriate to get them out, make as many quality pitches as I can, and that's facing the Oakland A's and not the Yankees. Not that they're minimizing it, but they're different hitters. They're just as good in a lot of ways, but I don't know how much I have to duplicate from the last start to this one. I'm just going to see what I have to work with and try and make the best of it."

The Tigers and Athletics have injuries to their setup men. Joel Zumaya has a sore wrist and although an MRI was negative, he will not pitch today. ``We got a good report on Zumaya," said Leyland. ``I'm not sure he'll be ready to pitch [today], but we got a good report on him. We got the best news you could get. There's a little fluid there, but it appears to be pretty good, probably as well as we could expect it." Justin Duchscherer reported a spasm in his neck to Athletics manager Ken Macha before Game 2 Tuesday night and was unavailable. Duchscherer had an MRI in Oakland while his teammates flew to Detroit. ``He played such a big part in our first series . . . that's a guy that's sorely missed out of our bullpen," Macha said.

Tigers first baseman Sean Casey is improving, although he is wearing a protective boot to stabilize a partial tear in his left calf. ``Every day it feels a little bit better," he said. ``It's starting to ease up a little bit." Thought to be out for the postseason, Casey has become more optimistic. ``I expect to play at some point. I just don't know when." . . . Macha received a call from old friend Terry Francona. The message? ``He told me to have fun," Macha said. ``I said, `Tito, we're down, 2-0.' And I know what he was going to say next. The Red Sox were down, 3-0, to the Yankees and they came back and won. I watched that series. Learned a lot from it. I think that subject has popped up in here a time or two." . . . When Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson drove to Comerica Park yesterday, the wind was so fierce ``it knocked over a metal trash can and I had to swerve to avoid it. I think we're going to have a little contest around here to see who wears the most clothing." Granderson hails from Chicago. ``I get the feeling there are a few Southerners who are going to wear a few layers." The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain/snow today in Detroit . . . Tigers first baseman/shortstop Carlos Guillen isn't worried about the weather. ``It's the same for both teams," he said. ``As long as we're playing good, you can't use the weather as any kind of an excuse. This is baseball. You play it and you don't complain." . . . Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has molded Detroit's young pitching staff. ``The guys are coming along," Rodriguez said. ``We go after hitters. There are some great arms out there, so the big thing for them is to hit the mitt. I have an idea of where the ball should go and it's up to them to put it where I want it. They do a great job of that." . . . A's starter Rich Harden, who opposes Rogers today, said he will not baby his right elbow, which limited him to nine starts this season.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com