Jim Leyland Doesn’t Expect Miguel Cabrera to Miss Much Time
By John Parent
Detroit Tigers slugger and reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera left Monday’s game in Chicago with a strained hip flexor. The injury kept him out of the lineup on Tuesday and Tigers manager Jim Leyland thinks one more day of rest might be possible.
"“I don’t know if he’ll play either of the two, to be honest with you,” Leyland said, as quoted by MLive.com. “But if he’s better, then probably rest him tomorrow and then play him in the day game (Thursday).”"
The Tigers are 4-0 since the start of 2011 in games played without Cabrera, but that certainly doesn’t indicate the club is better off without the best hitter in the game. Cabrera has been remarkably durable over his career and has played through most nagging injuries he’s encountered.
This one, it seems, will require only a short rest and will not need a trip to the disabled list; a place Cabrera hasn’t been since breaking his hand at the end of the 2010 season.
Cabrera is hitting .358 this season with 31 home runs and 96 RBI. He’s leading the AL in average, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, and walks. In his absence, utilityman Don Kelly got the start at third base on Tuesday and would be expected to do so again should Cabrera continue to miss time.