DETROIT -- Jim Leyland understands how fans feel when they go to a game and see Ivan Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez and Placido Polanco all removed from the starting lineup. But that doesn't mean he's not going to do it.

With a day game following a night game, a forecast high temperature in the upper 90s, and an off-day coming up, Leyland rested his regular second, third and fourth hitters Sunday. Tough as it might be to have them all off the same day, pairing it with Monday's off-day essentially gives them back-to-back days off.

He knows the reaction, because he has seen it before. He used to receive hate mail when he was in Pittsburgh from fans who would make a rare appearance at a game, only to see Barry Bonds or Andy Van Slyke had the day off.

"But you know what? I understand it," Leyland said. "You're pumped up to come out here, maybe it's the only game you can come up to, and Pudge isn't going to play.

"It's a hard job [managing]. Somebody's got to do it."

As for the counter argument that many players already had days off this week for the All-Star break, Leyland downplayed how refreshed players feel when they return.

"I don't think you're refreshed at all when you come back," he said. "You might get a little mental break for a day or two, but guys are flying back and forth, playing with their kids. When you play with your kids for 16 hours, it wears you out."

Without Polanco, Rodriguez and Ordonez, the middle of the order took an entirely different look. Brandon Inge batted second, followed by Omar Infante and Marcus Thames.

How's the weather: Sunday might've been the first day when the conditions at Comerica Park reminded Leyland of what it was like to manage in Florida. The difference was that it was so hot, so often for home games that the Marlins were used to the conditions, unlike the Tigers. The Marlins would take batting practice in shorts and T-shirts when Leyland was in charge, a practice that continued after he left.

"It's a mindset, really," Leyland said. "It's worse today than in Florida. This is as bad on the fans as it is on the players. At least the fans can have a of couple beers."

Two hits for Young: Dmitri Young went 2-for-3 with a double Sunday for Triple-A Toledo as part of his rehab stint. It was his second two-hit game in as many days for the Mud Hens, improving him to 6-for-15 with Toledo and 10-for-33 overall in his Minor League assignment.

Three hundred for Walker: Jamie Walker's two innings of work on Saturday night allowed him to reach his long-awaited milestone of 300 career appearances for the Tigers. He's just the seventh left-handed pitcher to reach the mark.

When talking about his hope of re-signing with the Tigers last weekend in Seattle, Walker mentioned that he'd like to eventually surpass John Hiller's team record for most appearances by a lefty. He has a long way to go for that mark -- Hiller made 545 appearances over 15 seasons.

Almost a handful: The Tigers' three wins out of four against the Royals out of the break, plus a White Sox sweep at Yankee Stadium, stretched Detroit's division lead to 4 1/2 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the largest lead the Tigers have had at any point since Aug. 11, 1988, when they had the same advantage over second-place Boston in the American League East. The Red Sox eventually erased that lead and won the division by one game.

Put a stamp on it: The U.S. Postal Service took part in a pregame ceremony to celebrate its stamp honoring Tigers Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. The stamp, showing Greenberg following through on a swing as he watches the flight of the ball, was originally unveiled in a ceremony on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

The 39-cent stamps are available at post offices nationwide.

Coming up: The Tigers have Monday off before beginning their long-awaited three-game series against the White Sox on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. Nate Robertson (8-5, 3.36 ERA) will match up against Jon Garland (8-3, 5.37 ERA) in the 7:05 p.m. ET contest.