Mar 21, 2009 5:01 PM EST

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said on Saturday that after having a conversation with pitcher Zach Miner he is almost positive that he won't be the team's fifth starter.

Miner has allowed 14 earned runs in his last 11 innings this spring.

"I pretty much told Zach he won't be the fifth starter," Leyland said. "I think if you know something and believe it, it's the time to say it. I just wanted to prepare him for it rather than have people speculating.

"But there is that one little percentage that if some other things don't work out, it could happen."

Via Detroit News