Miguel Cabrera to miss Thursday's game

Miguel Cabrera's issues with his back are nothing new. But now they'll cost the Tigers' third baseman a day in the lineup. Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced after the game Wednesday he'd hold Cabrera out of his Thursday lineup. Cabrera also left the game early Wednesday, being removed in the ninth inning for Don Kelly.

Even before the game, it was not certain whether he'd play. "I'm gonna see how he moves around," Leyland told the media (per Tony Paul of the Detroit News). "I'm gonna watch him during BP, and if it acts up or anything, we'll scratch him."

Cabrera felt pain in his back Tuesday, too. He told Paul, "It felt tight in batting practice," though in the game he hit a home run.

Originally the pain was not expected to cost Cabrera any time, but the Tigers had already decided to get time off for their players (per Matthew B. Mowery of the Oakland Press) so with the recent pain it only makes sense to sit Cabrera at this time.

Cabrera is batting .364 with .454 OBP and .670 slugging. He has 26 HR and 85 RBI.