ST. LOUIS — The Detroit Tigers altered their rotation and the middle of their lineup yesterday, placing left-hander Dontrelle Willis on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder and benching slumping slugger Magglio Ordonez indefinitely.

Willis was the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and a 22-game winner in '05, but is 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA this season while struggling with control problems that have intensified in recent starts. He walked eight in 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday and has walked 18 in 11 innings over his last three starts.

Willis believes the problems are mechanical, not mental.

"I've talked to everybody and I don't feel like I have any nervousness out there," Willis said. "I've got so many moving parts that if one's out of whack from time to time it happens.

"This is not the first time I've had control problems, but I've been able to overcome it, so I'm not worried about it."

The 35-year-old Ordonez's numbers are in conflict with his resume: a six-time American League All-Star with a .312 career average and seven 100-RBI seasons, plus an AL batting title with a .363 average in 2007. Batting primarily third, he was hitting .273 with two homers and 22 RBIs.

Manager Jim Leyland said he talked to Ordonez about the outfielder's declining production a few weeks ago, so the benching shouldn't come as a total surprise. Leyland felt he had to make a move with the offense in a tailspin, scoring three or fewer runs in seven straight games.

"Right now he's beating himself up," Leyland said. "Just let him breathe a little bit and see what happens. I really feel bad for him, but I've got to do something. That's just the way it is."

SHORT HOPS

Padres' Young on DL: Chris Young will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today due to inflammation in his right shoulder, meaning the top two pitchers for San Diego will be out of action. The 6-foot-10 Young will join Jake Peavy (strained tendon in right ankle), who went on the DL Saturday.

Phillies' Ibanez hurting: Philadelphia left fielder Raul Ibanez went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a strained left groin. Ibanez is batting .312 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs, ranking second in the NL in both.

Rhodes dead at 82: Dusty Rhodes, who helped the Giants win their last World Series title in 1954, has died. He was 82. Rhodes died Wednesday of cardiopulmonary arrest at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner's office said yesterday. He lived in Henderson.