Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera returns to lineup; Riley Greene (elbow) seeks second opinion

The Detroit Tigers scratched Miguel Cabrera from Sunday's starting lineup.

His right knee was sore.

Cabrera, who has dealt with chronic pain in his right knee for years, returned to the Tigers' starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park. There are nine home games remaining in the final season of Cabrera's legendary career, including the Oct. 1 finale.

Cabrera hasn't played since Friday's 6-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The 40-year-old sat out Saturday (regular rest) and Sunday (scratched from lineup) against the White Sox, then received extra rest because of Monday's off day.

"He's feeling a ton better," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday. "I think the three days off was important for him."

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The playing time for Cabrera has been tentatively scheduled for the final 19 games of the regular season, but if Cabrera wants to play more games, he will do so. In the same way, the Tigers will keep Cabrera on the bench if he determines that his knee won't allow him to play.

Hinch and Cabrera have maintained outstanding communication — especially regarding health, schedules and expectations — from the beginning of Hinch's tenure as manager in the 2021 season.

Cabrera is expected to play Tuesday and Wednesday before sitting out Thursday's series finale against the Reds. After that, Cabrera is expected to play Friday and Saturday before sitting out Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

"And then I'll get to the Dodgers when they sort out what they're doing with their pitching," Hinch said.

Second opinion

Outfielder Riley Greene wasn't with the Tigers for Tuesday's game at Comerica Park.

The 22-year-old is visiting an out-of-state doctor to receive a second opinion on his right elbow. He suffered the injury during the completion of a diving catch Sept. 1 and has been on the injured list with right elbow inflammation since Sept. 2.

"Once he gets back, we'll be able to know a little bit more," Hinch said.

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The Tigers performed a follow-up MRI scan to evaluate the specifics of the injury at the beginning of this week, after the swelling subsided. Now, Greene is seeking a second opinion from a different doctor to help determine the severity.

A complete update on Greene's status should be provided in the near future.

Big step for Tyler Alexander

Left-handed reliever Tyler Alexander has been on the injured list since July 3 with a left lat/shoulder strain. The 29-year-old should be healthy and ready to pitch at the beginning of spring training. He took a step in that direction earlier this week when he initiated his throwing program.

Alexander is scheduled to play catch four times this week.

Catching up

I missed the last two series — New York Yankees on the road and Chicago White Sox at home — because of my wedding. There were many noteworthy happenings over the past seven days:

∎ Outfielder Austin Meadows won't return to the Tigers for the remainder of the 2023 season. The 28-year-old has been on the injured list since April 7 due to anxiety. The nameplate above his locker was replaced by that of new right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long.

∎ As for Gipson-Long, the 25-year-old dominated in his MLB debut. He allowed two runs on four hits and zero walks with five strikeouts Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, throwing 50 of 73 pitches for strikes. Developing a cutter in the Tigers' organization helped him climb through the upper levels in the minor leagues, but his changeup helped him triumph over the right-handed-heavy White Sox. The Tigers plan to keep Gipson-Long in the starting rotation for the remainder of the season.

∎ Right-hander Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, lumbar strain) took a short break from his throwing program because he experienced fatigue in his Aug. 30 live batting practice session. He resumed his throwing program around Sept. 5 and threw his first bullpen session Saturday at Comerica Park. The 26-year-old is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Wednesday.

∎ The Tigers pulled right-handed reliever Mason Englert off his rehab assignment Sunday, just two days before he needed to be activated. His 30-day rehab window began Aug. 13 with his assignment in Triple-A Toledo. The Rule 5 draft pick has been on the injured list since July 23 because of left hip tightness. The Tigers have concerns about his health because of his lack of velocity.

∎ Right-hander Matt Manning will miss the rest of the 2023 season after breaking his right foot for the second time in about five months. A comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton, clocked at a 119.5 mph exit velocity, fractured his foot Sept. 6 at Yankee Stadium. It was the same foot as the mid-April fracture but a different bone in the foot. The 25-year-old is completing rehab daily.

∎ Right-hander Spencer Turnbull (cracked nail on big toe of left foot) missed Saturday's start with Triple-A Toledo and has missed back-to-back starts since the Tigers optioned him to the Mud Hens. The 30-year-old is not on, nor is expected to go on, the injured list.

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

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera plan for play over the next two series