Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera, who turned 40 in mid-April, hasn’t played since Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. He isn’t injured, but he hasn’t been healthy.
Cabrera didn’t play in either game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets, and he wasn’t in the starting lineup Thursday, even with the Tigers facing his former teammate, Justin Verlander, in the series finale.
But Cabrera, after missing four straight starts, is expected to start Friday.
“He’s available, but we’re going to give him one more day to not start,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday morning. “He’ll face a lefty tomorrow in St. Louis. That’s a good one to pencil him in.”
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Cabrera reported to the Tigers’ clubhouse on Thursday, just like he did before Wednesday’s doubleheader, with plans to work out and swing in the batting cage. He said he felt better.
Hinch provided clarity on Cabrera’s status.
“He could play today,” Hinch said. “He hasn’t done a ton in the last couple of days. I just talked to him inside when you guys came in the clubhouse. He’s feeling incrementally better, but he looks like a guy who’s been sick for a few days. I don’t know how much he’s eating, how much he’s slept.”
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Cabrera, in the final year of his career, is hitting .189 with three walks and 11 strikeouts through 15 games. The 21-year veteran has received 42 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers (hitting .154) and 14 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers (hitting .286).
The pitching matchups for the three-game with the St. Louis Cardinals: Left-hander Matthew Boyd vs. left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Friday; right-hander Spencer Turnbull vs. right-hander Adam Wainwright on Saturday; and TBA vs. left-hander Steven Matz on Sunday.
The Tigers have an opening Sunday in their starting rotation.
Some players, Hinch said, want lefty reliever Tyler Alexander to start.
“His versatility is great,” Hinch said. “I got guys lobbying for him to start Sunday when we have that extra start available. He can do anything. He does anything we ask. He does generally throws strikes. Velocity matters to him, but it’s not the end all be all for him. He’s durable and has been able to bounce back. That Swiss Army knife is never under appreciated, but it’s often under talked about because of the lock of appeal to that type of role. But he’ll do it.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.