DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers will be without their biggest star as they aim to complete a sweep of the Chicago White Sox in the series finale Wednesday at Comerica Park.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera will sit out the matinee because of a flare-up of his surgically repaired right ankle.
According to manager Brad Ausmus, this has been an issue bothering him dating back to the series against the Minnesota Twins.
"His ankle, his surgical ankle, it flares up from time to time. It happened in Minnesota and he kind of felt it again last night so we decided with the off day [on Thursday] we'd just give him almost three full days," Ausmus said.
The Tigers are hoping, with a day off Thursday, that Cabrera will be able to return to the lineup Friday when the team faces the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Ausmus said that Cabrera's right ankle, which was surgically repaired after the Tigers were eliminated from the playoffs in 2014 and hampered him last season, worsens in poor weather because of the air pressure. It may be something the 33-year-old slugger needs to stay on top of for the rest of his playing career.
"I mean, it wouldn't shock me, especially if bad weather was rolling in or something, that he would feel it for the rest of his life," Ausmus said.
Cabrera, the Tigers lone 2016 All-Star, is batting .308 with 28 home runs and 81 RBIs this season. Replacing him at first base on Wednesday is catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
The Tigers are also without two other key position players as they try to catch the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central pennant race. Third baseman Nick Castellanos (hand) is not expected back until mid-September and center fielder Cameron Maybin is ailing from the aggravation of the thumb injury that landed him on the disabled list earlier this month. He exited Monday's game after injuring the thumb in an attempt to steal second base, but an MRI revealed no structural damage.
Ausmus said the team is optimistic that Maybin could also return on Friday.
"I don't know what the odds are, but that's the hope," Ausmus said.