Stay calm. Or try your best, at least. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said on Saturday that both Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez may see their first game action of the spring as early as Sunday. The Tigers have a pair of split-squad games scheduled against the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves, with the latter marking Fox Sports Detroit's first television broadcast of the season.
Cabrera and Martinez have been sidelined due to injury, but both are progressing well enough to be in the conversation for appearing in the Tigers' Opening Day lineup. Cabrera, who is recovering from ankle and foot surgery, was mentioned by Ausmus last Saturday after he and Martinez ran the bases for the first time in camp. Ausmus updated the media on their status this morning, and detailed what would need to happen for them to appear in the lineup.
"The final hurdle in terms of them getting into a game on the big league side would be running the bases and them being fine with that," Ausmus said. "Once they can run the bases and we're confident that they're comfortable running the bases, that the reinjury risk is at a minimum, then I think that's the point where we can get them into a game."
The split-squad games offer the Tigers an opportunity to DH both players in order to slowly work them into game shape. Aaron Westlake and Jordan Lennerton have been handling the lion's share of first base duties this spring, though Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez have also gotten a small sample of innings.
The obvious worry for both Cabrera and Martinez, as Ausmus pointed out, is running the bases. With both players returning from lower body injuries -- Martinez had meniscus surgery in February -- having to sprint around the bases represents the greatest potential for re-injury. The Tigers could also choose to have Cabrera and Martinez play in a minor league game, which would allow them to face live pitching and lead off each inning without having to run. Martinez will receive "a few at-bats" in Saturday's minor league game, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
The Tigers have an off-day on Monday, their only open date of the spring. They will return to action on Tuesday against the New York Yankees, a game that will be televised on YES and MLB Network. Nine of the Tigers' 12 remaining spring training games after tomorrow will be televised in some form.