Tigers say Casey will miss series

In many ways, Sean Casey has enjoyed good fortune during his 2006 season. Until now.

He was traded from the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, to the contending Detroit Tigers, on July 31. He played a steady first base for Detroit and reached the postseason for the first time in his career.

His line drives, so often caught during the regular season, fell in for hits during the American League divisional series. He hit .353 as the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees in four games.

Then on Tuesday, in Game 1 of the A.L. Championship Series, he sustained a small tear of the fascia muscle in his left calf, when he hit a ground ball in the sixth inning of Detroit’s 5-1 win over the Oakland A’s. He is not expected to play again in the series. His status for a potential World Series also is uncertain.

Manager Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski, the club president and general manager, each suggested there was a small chance Casey could be ready for a potential Game 6 here. Leyland described it as a “long, long shot.”

“That would be a miracle,” Leyland said.

Asked if he meant that Casey is effectively out for the series, Leyland responded, “I would say so.”

That means the Tigers will be without one of their more valuable left-handed hitters.

Leyland was forced to make several adjustments to his Game 2 lineup. Carlos Guillen, the everyday shortstop, shifted to first base, where he had played eight times during the regular season. Neifi Perez, the veteran infielder, took Guillen’s place at shortstop and batted second.

La Russa goes with rookie

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa chose a rookie right-hander over a 14-game winner to start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

It wasn’t a close call.

Anthony Reyes was 0-2 in his last four starts, but had strong outings in two of his last three appearances without getting a decision. He started the regular-season finale on three days’ rest for the first time and on short notice after La Russa decided to gamble and hold ace pitcher Chris Carpenter for a potential playoff opener.

Reyes found out he was pitching the finale only a few hours before game time, and allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 5-3 loss to Milwaukee. The Cardinals clinched their third straight Central championship anyway when the second-place Houston Astros lost earlier that day.

“He didn’t have a lot of time to get ready,” La Russa said.

La Russa said he informed Marquis by telephone Wednesday before the team left for the stadium for the NLCS opener, which was postponed by rain. The manager said it might have been a tougher call had Game 4 been scheduled for New York.

Marquis is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 11 games against the Mets at Shea Stadium.

Reyes, 5-8 with a 5.06 ERA in 17 starts, will oppose the Mets’ Oliver Perez on Sunday.