"No one knows exactly what to expect out of Magglio Ordonez now that he is back in the starting lineup for the Detroit Tigers.

But Ordonez is certainly happy to be done with his stint on the disabled list and back with the team.

"I'm excited to be back here," Ordonez said this afternoon. "I'm excited that the team is playing good and hopefully I can do my job and help this team to win."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland put Ordonez in the sixth spot in the starting lineup – instead of his usual No. 3 spot – for the game tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he did not elaborate on his decision-making process.

"That's where I put him," Leyland said.

Ordonez hit .297 (11-for-37) with two home runs and six RBIs in nine games in a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo after going on the disabled list retroactive to May 11 with right ankle weakness.

But he seemed to get into a groove as his time with Triple-A Toledo went on. He homered in consecutive games Friday and Saturday and went 3-for-5 on Saturday night in his final game with the Mud Hens.

Ordonez said his timing felt good and feels like his transition into the Tigers lineup will be seemless.

"I played a few games in the minor leagues," he said. "I saw a lot of pitches. I played nine innings, so I think I'm ready.""