Jose Valverde hasn't pitched for the Tigers since he blew a save in the ninth inning of Game 1 against the Yankees, but Jim Leyland expects to use him in the World Series.

"I think everybody's making too big of a deal of the Valverde situation. Valverde's going to be ready. There's nothing wrong with Valverde. He's going to be fine," Leyland said. "I got a kick out of it. Nobody wanted me to pitch him, but everybody asks me every day if he's going to be the closer. I don't know what they expect, but I'm going to just see what happens."

Still, he didn't commit to what role Valverde will have.

"To me, you've got to pinch hit in the National League cities, you're going to have to use your pitchers, so if you get behind, that's just the way it is," Leyland said. "I think he'll be a big part of this World Series."