Detroit @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2010 ) Detroit 4, Tampa Bay 7

Help is on the way for the Detroit Tigers. They just have to hope it's not too late.

The Tigers, in the midst of a nine-game road losing streak, will try to salvage the finale of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Petersburg, Fla., Thursday afternoon.

Detroit acquired third baseman Jhonny Peralta from the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday for minor-league left-hander Giovanni Soto. Detroit also received cash considerations in the trade.

The Tigers hope Peralta can ease some of their offensive woes as they wait for Brandon Inge to return from a broken hand. Detroit also lost second baseman Carlos Guillen to a strained right calf and outfielder Magglio Ordonez to a broken right ankle over the weekend.

Guillen and Inge are expected to return soon. Ordonez will miss at least six weeks.

Detroit begins Thursday five games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central division.

The Tigers hope to have Peralta in their lineup Thursday. He was pulled from the Indian lineup an hour before their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Peralta, who is expected to play shortstop and designated hitter when Inge returns to third base, is hitting .246 with seven homers and 43 RBIs in 91 games this season. The 28-year-old is in the final season of a five-year, $13 million contract. He's making $4.6 million this season and the club has a $7 million option for 2011.

Soto is just 19 years old. He 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts in Class A ball.

The Tigers designated outfielder Wilkin Ramirez for assignment to make room for Peralta on the roster.

The Tigers will have to solve David Price (13-5) to snap their road woes. Price is tied for the AL lead in victories but has won just three of his last six decisions.

The Rays expect to be without B.J. Upton until the weekend. Upton sprained his ankle in the first inning of Tuesday's game and did not play on Wednesday. He did take batting practice before the game and said he felt better,

Leyland will return to the bench for Thursday's game. He also missed Wednesday's game serving a one-game suspension stemming from his ejection for arguing a call in Monday night's game.

Rick Porcello (4-8) starts for the Tigers. Porcello is making his third start after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo. He has not won since May 23.

The Tigers are desperately seeking a spark to their offense. For two straight nights Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon walked Miguel Cabrera to load the bases with two outs and the Rays got Brennan Boesch out to end the inning. Boesch is in a prolonged slump with just four hits in his last 46 at-bats.