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Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera return could mean lineup shuffle… again

By Tony Fischer |
May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) reacts after he is hit by a pitch in the 11th inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) reacts after he is hit by a pitch in the 11th inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Cabrera could end up returning to the Detroit Tigers lineup on Saturday night, causing Brad Ausmus to move J.D. Martinez around again.

After missing three straight games with a strained oblique, Miguel Cabrera could return to the Detroit Tigers lineup Saturday night against the Texas Rangers. Cabrera had missed three straight games with a strained left oblique but could see action tonight as a starter or a pinch hitter.

According to Detroit Tigers beat writer Anthony Fenech, Cabrera was taking batting practice prior to Friday’s series opener with the Rangers. Afterward Cabrera was saying he “felt good” and did not want to miss any more time this season.

“I feel much better today,” Cabrera said. “I don’t want to miss three weeks with this because it’s very dangerous. If I miss three or four games, to me, it’s going to be good, because the first time I feel it, I feel like kind of scary.“I was almost crying. I was like not again, please. This year, to me, has been very hard.” via Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

Despite Cabrera’s desire to get back in the lineup, manager Brad Ausmus and the Tigers will be cautious with Cabrera. The last thing the team needs right now is to have their triple-crown winner on the disabled list again.

Where will J.D. Martinez hit?

On Friday night, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus dropped Nick Castellanos in to sixth in the lineup in hopes of getting his bat going. J.D. Martinez occupied Miggy’s regular spot in the order, hitting third. So if Cabrera is in the lineup for the Tigers tonight, where will Ausmus put Martinez? With Victor Martinez on paternity leave he could end up hitting cleanup, a spot I think J.D. should occupy for the remainder of the season. But another option is the second spot, where the Tigers have struggled to find a solution ever since the departure of Placido Polanco nearly 10 years ago.

Related Story: V-Mart can't hit cleanup anymore

Time to sit Tyler Collins?

To call Tyler Collins streaky would be like calling Iron Man a smart ass. After a sizzling start to the season, Collins went into an 0-30 slump. He broke that slump by hitting two home runs against the Orioles but started a new one a game after. Ausmus has given him every opportunity to play through it, but it might be time to give Mikie Mahtook a chance at grabbing some more playing time.

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