Rajai returns to lineup

SEATTLE -- Rajai Davis said Friday his shoulder was sore, but fine after a diving catch Wednesday night left him with a bruised left shoulder and kept him out of Thursday's series finale in Oakland.

Thus, Davis was back in the Tigers' starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Mariners, giving Detroit its element of speed at the bottom of the batting order.

"Just sore," Davis said. "We all play with bumps and bruises."

Davis hesitated to say he could have played Thursday, but said the quick turnaround from night game to matinee would've made it tough to recover.

"I'm glad I didn't play," Davis admitted. "It's tough because of the night game to day game, so close. There's no time really to rest."