Tigers' Miguel Cabrera will undergo MRI for left calf strain, could land on DL

DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera was pulled in the fourth inning for an injury to his left leg on Friday night at Comerica Park. The Detroit Tigers later announced that Cabrera suffered a left calf strain and would undergo an MRI. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said it doesn't look like this injury is connected in any way to a previous injury.

"It's a calf strain, and we're really pending another doctor's opinion before we pinpoint exactly what it is," Ausmus said. "But it's the calf, though, not the Achilles. I was concerned. When Miggy says he can't play, you know it's serious cause Miggy plays through anything."

Cabrera will not be in Saturday's lineup for the Fourth of Julywas 2-for-2 with an RBI up to that point. Following a leadoff single to start the fourth, Cabrera took off during Victor Martinez's at-bat. While the ball was fouled off, Cabrera suddenly pulled up lame, grabbing at his left calf and waved for the trainers.

Ausmus and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand came out to attend to the first baseman. Not long after, Cabrera was removed from the game, the slugger walking very gingerly and slowly. Andrew Romine pinch ran for Cabrera, and stayed in the game, playing first.

"I'm not optimistic he's going to miss the DL at this point," Ausmus added. "But we'll know more tomorrow, for sure."

The Tigers led 1-0 since the bottom of the first when Cabrera knocked in the single, and in the fourth got two runs on Nick Castellanos' RBI single, with Victor Martinez scoring on a throwing error by the Blue Jays' left fielder. The Tigers had seven hits and a walk through four innings at the time, leading 6-0 after four innings of play. They went on to win the game 8-6, made close only because of an implosion outing by Alex Wilson.

With Cabrera out of the lineup for at least the next several games and possibly an extended period of time, Detroit needs to find a way to step its game up. J.D. Martinez has been knocking home runs out of the park on a nearly nightly basis, but that's been about it by way of explosive power, and with Cabrera gone, that percentage is about to get a lot slimmer unless several players dig real deep.

"You can't replace Miggy," Nick Castellanos said after the game. "The only thing we can do now is step up collectively as a team. Have better at-bats, and as a total, if we all step it up, maybe we can attempt to fill that gap. But still, Miggy's presence in the offense makes everybody better."