How Detroit Tigers are deciding which games to play Miguel Cabrera during final season

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning of Saturday's 12-2 loss. After drawing a six-pitch walk, he stayed in the game to run the bases and advanced to second base on a single.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he didn't consider pinch-hitting or pinch-running for Cabrera, a full-time designated hitter, in the ninth inning. The Tigers, losing by 10 runs, already removed shortstop Javier Báez and outfielder Austin Meadows because of the lopsided score.

Cabrera, who turns 40 in April, has chronic pain in his right knee.

"It's kind of series-by-series as I watch him, and who we are matching up against," Hinch said. "There are specific pitchers that we're going to focus on. It's going to be primarily all left-handed pitchers. There are some right-handed pitchers that we feel pretty good about based on we think they're going to attack him and where he can best do damage, and then where his health is."

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Venezuelans grew up watching Miguel Cabrera. They want to say thanks to country's GOAT

RYAN FORD: What will Miguel Cabrera's final season bring? Ranking finales of 32 3,000-hit club members

Before the season, Hinch mapped out Cabrera's activity for the first week of games. He scheduled him to start all three games against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and Tuesday against the Houston Astros at Minute Paid Park.

Cabrera, despite only starting one game in Houston, will be available for all three games of the series. He will start Thursday against the Boston Red Sox for the home opener at Comerica Park.

In two games, Cabrera has two hits and one walk across eight plate appearances. He drove in the Tigers' first run of the season in the fourth inning Saturday with a bloop single into right field.

The Tigers put him in the seventh spot in the batting order for his first three starts. Entering this season, Cabrera hadn't batted seventh in the lineup as a starter since doing so 57 times as a rookie in 2003.

The former two-time American League MVP and future Hall of Famer isn't upset about hitting in the bottom-third of the lineup. Hinch said Cabrera told him to "do whatever we have to do" with the batting order to win games.

Cabrera won the 2003 World Series with the Florida Marlins and has played 55 games in the postseason, but last advanced to the playoffs in 2014, eight seasons ago.

"Going into this season, I let him know exactly what my plan was going to be initially," Hinch said. "We'll see where it goes as the season progresses, but I'm not going to surprise him with anything. I'm going to tell him upfront exactly what the plan is, and he's on board with doing whatever it takes."

GREENE'S GROWTH: After taking the next step, Tigers' Riley Greene is thinking 'pure' at the plate

CONTRASTING PERSONALITIES: Matt Vierling, Nick Maton on mission to help cultivate championship culture

In 2022, Cabrera hit .308 with a .718 OPS in his first 70 games, and .160 with a .455 OPS in his final 42 games. His bad knee hindered his performance, and a left biceps strain sent him to the injured list.

The Tigers have been marketing Cabrera's final season to sell tickets.

Fans want to see him play one last time.

"I'd love to be open about where he fits in each particular series, whether it's teams honoring him, whether it's fans coming out to see him," Hinch said. "A lot of interested parties, as they should be. ... It's not always going to be perfect. I realize some fans will be disappointed if they come to a game and he's not starting. It doesn't mean he won't get into it. It's a tough balancing act."

THE FOUNDATION: A.J. Hinch learned to be 'a players' manager.' Tigers are relying on that in 2023

YUMMY: Tigers have grand slam with this new item among Comerica Park’s new foods

Michael Lorenzen's health

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (left groin strain) threw his latest bullpen on Opening Day and continues to progress. The Tigers placed him on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to March 27, to start the season.

The 31-year-old started three games and pitched 7⅓ innings in spring training before reporting groin tightness. He missed his fourth and fifth starts leading up to the regular season.

"I feel 100%," Lorenzen said. "It's now just building up innings. It happened during the ramp-up process, so I got to redo it. I was able to throw through the entire injury, so my arm is in a really good place."

READ MORE: Tigers pitcher Michael Lorenzen wants to hit in 2023: 'I have 4 bats coming'

Lorenzen signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Tigers in the offseason. He had a 4.24 ERA with 44 walks and 85 strikeouts across 97⅔ innings in 18 starts for the Los Angeles Angels last season.

He will throw live batting practice Monday in Houston.

"We'll go on from there," Lorenzen said.

Injuries in the minor leagues

The Tigers provided an update on 15 minor leaguers dealing with injuries.

Right-hander Elvis Alvarado (right elbow sprain) will resume throwing in April after completing physical therapy. Left-hander José Álvarez (left elbow sprain), who signed a minor-league contract in March, is in the early stages of his throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2022.

EVALUATING THE ROSTER: Tigers' 26-man Opening Day roster: Here to stay or something to prove?

Left-hander Sean Guenther (left elbow sprain) — whom the Tigers claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins in November, then removed from the 40-man roster — threw a live batting practice as part of his return-to-play progression. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2022.

Right-hander Tanner Kohlhepp (right elbow sprain), a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft, underwent Tommy John surgery last season and is scheduled to throw bullpens this week.

Catcher Dillon Dingler (right knee meniscectomy) has resumed light baseball activities, and right-hander Jackson Jobe (lumbar spine inflammation) has been cleared to begin upper body plyometrics. Infielder Wenceel Perez (lumbar spine inflammation) opened the season on Triple-A Toledo's injured list but has started a game progression.

Right-hander Wilmer Fenelon (right elbow sprain) underwent Tommy John surgery March 24. The 19-year-old posted a 6.89 ERA with 19 walks and 19 strikeouts in 15⅔ innings across 14 games in the Florida Complex League last season.

Left-hander Gabriel Reyes (left elbow sprain) underwent Tommy John surgery, too. The 19-year-old had a 5.29 ERA with nine walks and 29 strikeouts in 32⅓ innings across 10 games (six starts) in the FCL last season.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Detroit Tigers are managing Miguel Cabrera early in final season