(From The My Sportsbook - All Times Eastern)

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

May 17, 7:05 p.m. - Casey Fossum (2-1) vs. Jason Johnson (2-3)

May 18, 7:05 p.m. - Doug Waechter (1-2) vs. Wilfredo Ledezma (1-3)

May 19, 1:05 p.m. - Scott Kazmir (0-4) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (5-2)

2004 SEASON SERIES: Tied, 3-3

TAMPA BAY (14-25)

Fossum takes the place of the disgruntled Dewon Brazelton in Tampa Bay's rotation. Brazelton was placed on the restricted list Monday by Major League Baseball for failing to report to the team's minor league affiliate in Durham, North Carolina. He was demoted to the Triple-A club last week, but did not report to the Bulls within the allotted three-day period. He was also suspended five games and fined an undisclosed amount last month for his actions during a bench-clearing altercation versus Boston on April 24. Brazelton, who owns a 1-7 mark and a 6.43 earned run average this season, has never won a game on the road in his major league career, going 0-14 with an 8.04 ERA in 18 starts.

Fossum, a 27-year-old lefthander, makes his 12th appearance of the season and first start. Fossum pitched last Wednesday against the White Sox, when he worked a season-high 4 1/3 innings in relief of Brazelton. He was used exclusively as a starter last year with Arizona for the first time in his career and has a lifetime mark of 14-25 in a starting role. He's 1-0 in five career games (2 starts) against the Tigers.

The Devil Rays have lost two straight and four of five contests, including a 4-3 defeat at Kansas City on Sunday. Julio Lugo had two hits, including a two- run single in the ninth that pulled the Devil Rays within a run.

The Rays are 2-13 away from Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford is mired in a 6-for-37 (.162) slump in his last nine games. He has just one RBI this month.

DETROIT (17-19)

The Tigers lost twice in a three-game set to the Angels over the weekend, dropping a 9-3 contest on Sunday at Comerica Park. Craig Monroe finished 1- for-1 with three walks and an RBI for Detroit, which lost for only the third time in its last eight contests.

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez was forced to leave the game in the second inning with a contusion on his left big toe. X-rays were negative and he is listed as day- to-day. Designated hitter Dmitri Young is also day-to-day with a sprained left ankle.

Rodriguez leads all active major leaguers with a .392 batting average (87-for-222) against the Devil Rays.

Johnson is 0-2 in his last four outings and hasn't won since April 18 at Baltimore. Johnson tossed his sixth career complete game, but took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits while fanning six a week ago at Texas. He is 5-4 in 12 games (11 starts) against the Devil Rays.

Although Johnson's ERA stands at 4.25 this year, he has been masterful at home, going 1-0 in three starts with a 1.77 ERA. However, he is just 6-12 lifetime at Comerica Park.

Shortstop Carlos Guillen has a career-high 12-game hitting streak. He's also hitting .469 (30-for-64) at home this year.