The Detroit Tigers will begin the season without a set closer after optioning Bruce Rondon to Triple-A Toledo.

"I'll tell everybody ahead of time, this is going to be tough," manager Jim Leyland said. "It'll be a second-guesser's delight, a second-guesser's heaven."

Detroit's bullpen includes Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal along with left-handers Drew Smyly, Darin Downs and Phil Coke.