Not wanting to sit one of the team's better hitters, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is starting Victor Martinez at catcher and giving Alex Avila his first professional start at third base.

As mentioned in Ian Casselberry's column earlier in the week, Avila played some third base in college at the University of Alabama.

Because the Tigers are playing on the road against a National League opponent, pitcher Rick Porcello will be batting ninth tonight. This prompted Leyland to make another adjustment to his batting order, shifting his 3-8 hitters up one spot each.

Below is the full batting order.

1. Austin Jackson, CF

2. Brennan Boesch, LF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, C

5. Magglio Ordonez, RF

6. Alex Avila, 3B

7. Jhonny Peralta, SS

8. Ryan Raburn, 2B

9. Rick Porcello, P