Kenny Rogers is out until at least the All-Star break, leaving the Detroit Tigers to defend their American League pennant without one of their top pitchers.

Two days after saying his arm felt tired, Rogers had surgery yesterday to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder and repair arteries.

"We might have been the only club in baseball with five established starters," Tigers President Dave Dombrowski said. "It’s an edge we have here, and all we did was lose a little of the edge. We still have a great club with four established starters and a strong bullpen."

When the Tigers put Rogers on the disabled list Thursday, Chad Durbin became their fifth starter behind Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson and Mike Maroth. Durbin was 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three relief appearances with Detroit last year.

"I have confidence in Chad Durbin, but can anyone replace Kenny Rogers? No," Manager Jim Leyland said.

Rogers, a 42-year-old left-hander, was flown to Baylor University Hospital in Texas, where Dr. Greg Pearl performed the surgery. Rogers is expected to start throwing in six to eight weeks, and Dombrowski said the earliest Rogers would return to the rotation is July.

Rogers reported arm fatigue to trainers late Wednesday and received treatment at a Lakeland, Fla., hospital. Tigers officials said at first that he would miss only one start, but the pitcher was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after doctors found an irregular pulse.

He is on the DL for the first time since a shoulder injury in July 2001. The blood clot might be related to that injury, Dombrowski said.

● A ‘PESKY’ RULE: Boston Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky will have to leave the dugout during games this season because of a major-league rule that limits the number of coaches allowed in uniform.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said the team was told by the commissioner’s officer it will enforce the rule that limits uniformed personnel in the dugout to players, managers and six coaches. Francona said the Red Sox received a stern letter from baseball threatening substantial fines.

The 87-year-old Pesky has been with the ball club for 57 years as a player, coach and manager.

● SABATHIA WON’T MISS START: A bruised C.C. Sabathia, after tossing 50 pitches in a bullpen session, said he’s ready to keep his opening-day start Monday for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox.

The left-hander was hit on the left forearm Wednesday by a drive off the bat of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Reed Johnson. Sabathia was taken to a hospital for examination, but no break was found. He still has a bruise just above his left wrist.

"Once you get it in your head that it’s not broken, you feel better about it," he said.

Sabathia played catch as well as complete his normal bullpen session.

He will be limited to 110 pitches in Chicago.

● DEFAULT SELECTION: Much-maligned pitcher Carl Pavano will be the New York Yankees’ opening-day starter against visiting Tampa Bay - his first time on the mound in the major leagues since June 27, 2005.

Pavano will be followed in the rotation by Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Kei Igawa. With Chien-Ming Wang sidelined by a strained right hamstring, Darrell Rasner will be the fifth starter at the beginning of the season.

"It’s going to be pretty exciting," a smiling Pavano said after Manager Joe Torre announced his decision. "Who wouldn’t be excited at this opportunity? It’s a good day."

Sidelined by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and ribs injuries, Pavano had been dubbed a failure during the first two seasons of his $39.95 million, four-year contract. Pavano got the assignment after injuries to Wang and Pettitte.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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