"Magglio Ordoñez isn't an everyday player right now, but he hopes to be soon.

Austin Jackson isn't an accomplished bunter right now, but he hopes to be soon.

If each can achieve his respective goal, he will have moved closer to filling the vital role he holds on this season's Tigers.

Ordoñez returned to the lineup Saturday night after missing four games because of trouble related to his surgically repaired right ankle.

With a day game after a night game Sunday, manager Jim Leyland didn't start him in the hope the ankle will be strong enough for Ordoñez to play two of three in the Seattle series that opens tonight.

That fits the pattern this season -- Ordoñez has played about half the games.

"My goal is to play every day," said Ordoñez, 37. "It (the ankle) is getting better every day. So I look forward to playing every day."

Jackson dropped to second in the order Sunday in what Leyland termed a temporary change. Jackson went 1-for-4, leaving his average at .175.

Jackson led the American League in strikeouts as a rookie last season, and he has fanned 19 times this season -- once every three at-bats. So does he need to start bunting regularly for hits? He tried once Sunday and missed the ball."